Biden's Pentagon nominee grilled on selling of border wall parts, Chinese spy balloon: 'Caught flat-footed'

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

President Biden's nominee for second-highest civilian position in the U.S. Air Force was grilled by Congress on Tuesday regarding the Department of Defense's selling off of border wall parts, as well as the handling of the Chinese spy balloon, among other issues impacting national security.

Melissa Dalton, who has served as the Pentagon's Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs since 2022, appeared before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on Tuesday as she's being considered for a second time for the role of Under Secretary of the Air Force. Biden nominated her for the Air Force's No. 2 civilian role in September, but because the Senate didn't act before the end of the year, the White House renominated Dalton this month.

In his opening statement, Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., raised concern that Dalton "has virtually no experience with the Air Force."

"Ms. Dalton, the Air Force and Space Force both possess insufficient capacity and capability to meet their growing mission sets. This is the case even as we march toward a state of maximum vulnerability in the Pacific. The last confirmed appointee to the post that Ms. Dalton has been appointed for was not focused on this challenge. She created division in our military instead of prioritizing readiness and modernization," he said. "If Ms.