Opening Statement (As Prepared)

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Thank you Dr. Jackson, and thank you to our Defense Intelligence 
leaders for being here today to provide testimony.

Today’s hearing is about whether our defense intelligence enterprise is 
resourced appropriately, postured effectively, and operating as a 
cohesive unit.

We ask a great deal of our intelligence professionals. They are expected 
to anticipate adversary actions across all domains while integrating vast 
streams of data into clear, decision-ready insights. 
That mission is only getting harder. Adversaries are more agile, more 
networked, and more willing to exploit any vulnerabilities in our own 
system.

The global security environment is testing our defense, security, and 
intelligence apparatus in unprecedented ways, with challenges ranging 
from cyber threats, to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and delivery 
systems, to force protection and an active conflict in the Middle East.
Intelligence is our first line of defense against these and many other 
threats. It supports our operations, prevents strategic surprise, and 
ensures the safety of our service members. 

The need for an agile, capable, and synchronized Defense Intelligence 
Enterprise, and one that works closely with allies and partners, cannot be 
overstated.

The ongoing war with Iran has made that abundantly clear, and I have 
made my position on the war equally clear, but what matters for the 
purposes of this hearing is our shared commitment to protecting this 
country and our service members.

Keeping everyone safe will require that we stay integrated and 
synchronized across all battlefield functions, including and especially 
our intelligence functions.

Understanding how this conflict enriches, emboldens, and strengthens 
alliances between other malign actors like China and Russia is also 
critical to ensuring our security at home and abroad. 

These countries will continue to adapt their strategies to counter U.S. 
influence in real time, and we cannot afford to let them take advantage 
of this volatile security environment. 

That is why I must again stress the importance of our alliances. Our 
ability to collaborate with global partners, including sharing relevant 
intelligence across agencies and enterprises, is part of what makes us 
better and stronger than our adversaries. 

Make no mistake, these are turbulent times that demand serious people. 

We built a system with deep expertise across multiple agencies and 
commands. That specialization is a strength. But it can also become a 
weakness if:
? those entities are not fully aligned; 
? information is not shared in real time; 
? priorities are not coordinated; and 
? if resources are not allocated with a unified strategy in mind.

So today, I want to better understand three core issues.

First, resourcing. Are our defense intelligence agencies funded and 
staffed to meet the demands of the current threat environment? Are there 
critical gaps in analytic capability, collection capacity, or emerging 
technology investments that this committee needs to address?

Second, posture. How are you positioning your organizations to respond 
to the most pressing challenges we face today? Are we structured to 
compete effectively in a world where threats are increasingly 
transregional and cross-domain? And are we agile enough to adapt as 
those threats evolve?

And third, integration. Perhaps most importantly, how well are you 
working together? Are there barriers - cultural, bureaucratic, legal, or 
technical - that still prevent seamless collaboration across agencies and 
with our partners and allies? What steps are you taking to break down 
silos, and where do you need additional authorities or support to do so?

Because the reality is this: our adversaries are not organized the way we 
are. They are not constrained by the same divisions between agencies or 
missions. They are coordinated, opportunistic, and focused on exploiting 
gaps. If our intelligence enterprise is not fully synchronized, those gaps 
become vulnerabilities.

We owe it to the men and women on the front lines, and to the American 
people, to ensure that our intelligence system is as integrated and 
effective as possible. That means making hard choices about priorities, 
modernizing how we share and analyze information, and ensuring that 
every part of the enterprise is pulling in the same direction.

I remain committed to working with you all to ensure your organizations 
have the resourcing and authorities required to conduct what the nation 
asks of you. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses on these and 
others issues today. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.