'Why Weren't These Risks Included?': André Carson Grills Tulsi Gabbard About Funding Cuts

2 days ago

At today's House Intel Committee hearing, Rep. André Carson (D-IN) questioned DNI Tulsi Gabbard about the impact of cuts on national security.

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Chairman, to the witnesses,

00:01many of whom I've worked with in the past.

00:04It appears that this year's report omitted any discussion

00:07of transnational concerns like global health security,

00:10infectious diseases, and the role of conflict, violence,

00:14and political instability play as drivers of migration.

00:17Coupled with the administration's cuts

00:20to USAID and other international assistance,

00:23particularly health and humanitarian assistance,

00:25won't these reductions

00:26and eliminations increase regional instability

00:30and volatility in areas already at high risk for threats?

00:34Was the IC consulted at all in the decisions to eliminate

00:37such critical funding,

00:39and why weren't these risks included in this year's report?

00:42Thank you for the question, Congressman.

00:47The direction that I gave

00:49to our National Intelligence Council

00:52as they were putting together the annual threat assessment was

00:55to focus on the most direct and extreme threats

00:59that we face from non-state and state actors.

01:04While I acknowledge the factors that you've mentioned create

01:10an environment that our operators

01:13and intelligence officials need to be aware of,

01:16this year's annual threat assessment was really more

01:19targeted to focus on the direct threats

01:21that we have the ability to affect and impact.

01:24Some of those were included here that you mentioned

01:28with regard to the effects and impacts of USAID.

01:32That assessment has not yet been done, at least to my knowledge,

01:37and was not considered to be included here.

01:41Director Patel, this year's assessment, sir,

01:43confirms a threat I've worked on for a number of years,

01:46domestic extremists, including lone wolves,

01:50white nationalists motivated by racial

01:53or anti-government grievances, even religious grievances.

01:57Mr. Director, a few yes or no questions.

01:59Do you, sir, agree that these domestic threats must be

02:02addressed as thoroughly as foreign extremists?

02:06All threats like that will be treated equally, yes, sir.

02:08Is it true, sir, you moved personnel

02:10out of the FBI section responsible

02:12for countering domestic violent extremists?

02:15I don't believe I did that.

02:17Is it true, sir, that you've discussed disbanding

02:19this section?

02:20I don't believe I've done that.

02:24Will you pledge today, sir,

02:26not to disband this critical section?

02:29I will pledge to you today that any personnel matters

02:31that are being worked on currently,

02:33once finalized, the congressional notification

02:35will be published to your committee.

02:37Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

'Why Weren't These Risks Included?': André Carson Grills Tulsi Gabbard About Funding Cuts

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