“We wanted to show this part of the state that we are engaged, that we care about them and that (on) one of our first chances, we came here,” Curtis said.

While Curtis has been on base previously, he described his morning briefing at Hill as a “a top-to-bottom introduction” of its operations. He later met with members of the Weber and Davis county commissions to discuss how the counties can best be served.

During his stop at the Weber Center, Curtis discussed with the Standard-Examiner topics ranging from national defense, his work with the Conservative Climate Coalition, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and more.

On the biggest threats to our national security: “Let me just start at a 30,000-foot level, and that’s our threats overseas. China, in particular, it’s one of my areas of expertise and where I spend a lot of time. We talked a lot with the base about their readiness and perhaps what we need to be doing better to make sure they’re ready for those types of threats. I serve on the Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C., and I’ll actually chair the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. So, this whole readiness, peace through strength, I think it’s just a very important part of what’s happening in this part of the state.”

On how defense contractors and companies in Northern Utah can contribute: “I think if you look at one of the most threatening things to our country, it would be the (possible) invasion by China of Taiwan. Taiwan has tried to buy a lot of military equipment from the United States and we haven’t been able to deliver. Stepping up that game, it’s good for our economy. It’s good for world stability. I also feel like part of the ecosystem here is some well-tested, strong companies. But there’s also an incredible ecosystem here of young startups.

“The innovation and things coming from their area, I think, is also incredibly important. And one of my priorities, too, is helping them get to market better. It’s kind of a tough game to break into. That’s one of my concerns is how can we help that really innovative part of what’s here grow and gain momentum as well.”

On striking a balance between reining in spending and supporting national defense: “I think it came up on the base today, and I think what’s happening, too, is DOGE is introducing some stress. It wouldn’t be unusual if people in the defense community here were worried about what DOGE meant for them. My answer was, what DOGE is going to help us do is focus on what government really should do and give us more money to do that. So, if you ask almost any American, the single most important thing government does is to protect us. So, DOGE, if it’s successful, will enhance our ability to do that and give us more money to do it. … Part of my message today was, let’s get ahead of DOGE. Let’s find and root out those inefficiencies, because every dollar that we weed out of inefficiencies is a dollar that can go to the core mission and to things that really matter.”

On the impact of DOGE cuts, including the loss of jobs locally: “I think if there’s one thing I could change about the DOGE, it’s that it’s moving so fast, it’s not really factoring in the human element. That these are real lives, real people. They have kids. And we’re really adding a tremendous amount of stress, even to jobs that are not going to go away. I think we can do a better job in Washington of bringing that compassion to the DOGE conversation, bringing that awareness that these are real people with real lives. We need to make sure we’re always doing this with dignity as well.”

On his work with Conservative Climate Caucus: “So, one of my major areas of work is in climate and energy, and it’s interesting because if you try to separate climate policy from energy policy, you can’t do it. They’re so intertwined. One of the things that I tell my good conservative friends who don’t like to talk climate is, ‘Well, as a result, you’re not talking energy policy.’ And when we don’t talk climate, we don’t have any impact on the energy policy. One of my, I’ll call it my ‘aha’ moments, was that you don’t have to give up your conservative principles to be good on climate policy, and I think a lot of conservatives feel like they do. They feel like, ‘Oh, my only choice is a Green New Deal.’

“One of the reasons I’ve had success is I’ve shown them all of the things Republicans like that actually reduce emissions. I actually believe our ideas will reduce more emissions than my Democratic colleagues. So, why aren’t we in the debate? … We talked to your commissioners today about small nuclear reactors. In the Iron County part of our state, we’re doing these tremendous geothermal projects that have huge potential. Our natural gas that we produce in the basin is produced 40% cleaner than Russia. As people learn these things, they feel more comfortable engaging in energy policy.

“I’m just an absolute believer that where our country is headed is energy that’s affordable, reliable and clean, and sometimes people make a mistake and only talk about affordable and reliable, not realizing the market is actually driving clean.”

On President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, the vetting process and expectations: “It has been a learning experience for me, and my expectations are that every member of Congress should go through a process of evaluation. My process has been incredibly thorough, particularly on the ones that are a little bit more controversial. So, my process has included meeting with them, I’ve asked them all for references, I’ve called those references and I have found my own additional references. In some cases, it has been four or five people from their previous life that I’ve called and talked to, so that I cannot be reliant on the news reports, but actually learn for myself. I’ve read their books. I’ve listened to their podcasts.

“In the case of Tulsi Gabbard, I’m not on the Intel Committee, but I actually went to her hearing because I wanted to see her answers in person. For me, that is my expectation, is that the Senate members take it that seriously. That said, I do understand that the president should have some deference in his Cabinet picks, that it’s not necessarily about who I think is best, but the president picks them. And then, can I get comfortable supporting them and voting for them? That’s kind of been the process that I’ve gone through.”