WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), today issued the following joint statement announcing the formation of a new subcommittee under the House Armed Services Committee rules, which will be Chaired by Representative Gallego.
“The scope of the Armed Services Committee is vast by necessity – it is our responsibility to oversee the entire Department of Defense, the largest agency in the federal government. To that end, it is critical that our committee structure allows each subcommittee to dedicate the time and staff resources required to perform rigorous oversight and to enact meaningful legislation that advances our national security each and every year.
“Therefore, as we begin the 117th Congress, the Armed Services Committee will form a new subcommittee: The Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (ISO). This new subcommittee structure will allow for an even greater focus on military intelligence; national intelligence; countering chemical, biological, and radiological weapons of mass destruction; counterterrorism; other sensitive military operations; and special operations forces. For decades we have asked more and more of our special operations forces in service to our counterterrorism missions across the CENTCOM area of responsibility and around the world. As the country faces unprecedented threats from our adversaries and competitors, especially the disruptive impact of disinformation attacks, we will ensure that special operations forces and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise are postured to address those threats. It is critical that these highly sensitive areas of the Committee’s jurisdiction receive the time and attention they deserve, and this new subcommittee structure will facilitate exactly that.”
The Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (ISO) will have the following jurisdiction:
“The scope of the Armed Services Committee is vast by necessity – it is our responsibility to oversee the entire Department of Defense, the largest agency in the federal government. To that end, it is critical that our committee structure allows each subcommittee to dedicate the time and staff resources required to perform rigorous oversight and to enact meaningful legislation that advances our national security each and every year.
“Therefore, as we begin the 117th Congress, the Armed Services Committee will form a new subcommittee: The Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (ISO). This new subcommittee structure will allow for an even greater focus on military intelligence; national intelligence; countering chemical, biological, and radiological weapons of mass destruction; counterterrorism; other sensitive military operations; and special operations forces. For decades we have asked more and more of our special operations forces in service to our counterterrorism missions across the CENTCOM area of responsibility and around the world. As the country faces unprecedented threats from our adversaries and competitors, especially the disruptive impact of disinformation attacks, we will ensure that special operations forces and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise are postured to address those threats. It is critical that these highly sensitive areas of the Committee’s jurisdiction receive the time and attention they deserve, and this new subcommittee structure will facilitate exactly that.”
The Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (ISO) will have the following jurisdiction:
- Military Intelligence
- National Intelligence
- Special Operations Forces
- Countering chemical, biological, and radiological weapons of mass destruction
- Counter-Proliferation
- Counterterrorism
- Sensitive Military Operations
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