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Daniel Driscoll: “$47,000 to replace this assembly when we can make this knob…”

Featuring: Daniel Driscoll, Republican | United States Secretary of the Army | National

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25

Published October 13, 2025 | Video Starts at 15:06

When this little tiny thing breaks, the whole aircraft is grounded. The vendor won't produce replacements. So instead we have to turn in this entire screen assembly and pay $47,000 for a replacement. $47,000 to replace this assembly when we can make this knob for 15 bucks. That is a 313,000% markup. And we're spending around 188,000 every month for what we could solve for $60. (15:06–15:14)

CLAIM

Asserts that the knob can be made for $15, compared to a $47,000 assembly replacement.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Daniel Driscoll

“We sent billions into Crusader, Comanche and Booker programs the army knew from the very beginning weren't right.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 05:29-05:38
“The Vendor charges over $14,000 for a replacement [Blackhawk's external fuel tank fin].”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 13:58-14:03
“We can manufacture this part for just over $3,000. Ours is 300% stronger and 78% cheaper.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 14:16-14:25
“We have to turn in this entire screen assembly and pay $47,000 for a replacement.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 14:59-15:07
“We're spending around 188,000 every month for what we could solve for $60.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 15:18-15:25
“Last month we brought over 15 CEOs representing around 15 trillion in market value to the Pentagon for an AI war game.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 22:05-22:14
“Tomorrow at the Installation Resilience Warrior Corner, Secretary of Energy Wright and I will make a game changing announcement. We will…”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 23:13-23:25
“We have been paying 68% premiums simply to build on our own basis. That is 68% higher than just on the other side of our own fence line.”
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“Our adversaries are harnessing [technology] to change the very nature of warfare.”
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“Since February, Chief and I have been laser focused on making sure every effort in our army leads to a better killing machine.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 01:21-01:31
“In the last eight months, we visited bases across the world, installations across the nation and allies across the continents.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 02:00-02:09
“We visited soldiers in 23 states and 10 countries.”
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“Our bureaucratic inefficiencies enable our adversaries.”
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“The system [Specialist Gail Valera] is working on was originally fielded in 1995.”
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“Special interests and lobbyists have taken advantage of our system since the end of the Cold War.”
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“The gap between military and commercial technology was stunning [in 2009].”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 06:00-06:08
“Returning to the army 15 years later, I am absolutely enraged to report that the gap has grown to a deep chasm.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 06:13-06:18
“The platforms [soldiers] train on were fielded 30 and 40 years ago like the Humvee.”
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“Ukraine is updating its drone software every couple of weeks.”
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“We launched continuous transformation in May to get rid of what we don't need, cut the bloat and buy soldiers what they actually need.”
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“We aligned 750 million to this model and it will increase to, excuse me, 765 million next year.”
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“That's over 150% increase in the Army's funding toward emerging tech and innovation.”
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“Our goal under Fuse is to contract with startups that have never ever worked with the United States army before in just 60 to 70 days.”
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“The traditional 12 to 18 month contracting cycle is just no longer feasible.”
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll AUSA Address, Association of the US Army Annual Conf in DC 10-13-25 | Uploaded October 13, 2025 | 11:53-11:59
“We will announce changes to how we buy military equipment.”
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“We will combine it all under a single organization that reports directly to senior army leadership.”
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“We sign away our right to repair, we pay unbelievable cost markups and can wait years for parts we could 3D print ourselves immediately.”
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“We break around four of these [screen control knobs] every single month.”
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“Our 185 billion dollar budget simply doesn't buy enough combat power.”
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“Parts take literally years to arrive for our soldiers.”
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“We are accelerating advanced manufacturing across the entire army.”
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“Drones will define the 21st century.”
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“We will rapidly integrate [drones] into our formations like they have at the 101st Airborne Division.”
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“Our dining system is absolutely broken. It is a poster child not only for corrupted systems, but poor quality and unhealthy food.”
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“We are piloting five campus style facilities that are open 24, seven offer multiple vendors, healthy food and CAC swipe convenience.”
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“We met our 2025 recruiting goal in just seven months. That's our best year in 13 years.”
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“We already have 20,000 in the delayed entry program for 2026.”
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