Defense &amp; National Security

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, sent a letter to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio advising them to preserve records in accordance with the law as Committee Democrats launch an investigation into a catastrophic and confounding security breach, in which journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was included in a Signal group chat where the Trump Administration’s senior national security leaders discussed classified plans for a military strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Subcommittees

Ranking Members Connolly, Smith, Meeks, Himes Demand Answers to Reports That Trump Nat Sec Team Leaked Military Plans

Issues: Administration Defense & National Security Ethics and Transparency

March 24, 2025

Washington, D.C. (March 24, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence sent a letter to President Trump’s National Security team demanding answers to questions stemming from a report in The Atlantic that asserts the team texted sensitive and potentially classified information, including plans for the United States’ military action against Houthi targets on March 15th two hours before the operation, over an unclassified messaging app.

Subcommittees

Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury’s Opening Remarks at DOGE Subcommittee Hearing on the Dismantling of USAID

Issues: Administration Defense & National Security

February 26, 2025

Washington, D.C. (February 26, 2025). Below is Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing on the consequences of the Trump Administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Subcommittees

Delivering on Government Efficiency (119th Congress)

Issues: Defense & National Security

Ranking Members Connolly and Subramanyam Launch Investigation Into Trump’s Abrupt Firing of Senior Military Leaders, Call for Transparency

February 24, 2025

Washington, D.C. (February 24, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep.

Subcommittees

Military and Foreign Affairs (119th Congress)

Issues: Defense & National Security

Ranking Member Mfume’s Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining DOD’s Financial Management Practices

September 24, 2024

Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2024)—Below is Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today’s Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce hearing examining the Department of Defense’s (DOD) financial management practices.

Subcommittees

Committee on Oversight and Accountability (118th Congress)

Government Operations and the Federal Workforce (118th Congress)

Issues: Defense & National Security

Ranking Member Raskin’s Opening Remarks During Hearing Contrasting the Biden-Harris Administration’s Successes with Project 2025’s Dark Vision for a Second Trump Term

September 19, 2024

Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2024)âBelow is Ranking Member Jamie Raskinâs opening statement at todayâs full committee hearing, for which Chairman Comer convened four witnesses with ties to the radical Project 2025 to audition for top jobs in a second Trump Administration

Subcommittees

Ranking Member Raskin and Chairman Comer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy

Issues: Administration Defense & National Security Economy & Jobs Gun Control Health Care Voting Rights Economy Education Energy

September 17, 2024

Washington, D.C. (September 17, 2024)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, introduced the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 9598) to reauthorize the ONDCP and related programs and ensure federal agencies are properly resourced to hold accountable those who are trafficking drugs into the United States at the southwest border.

Subcommittees

Ranking Member Garcia’s Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining DoD’s Spending, Weapon Systems Acquisitions

Issues: Defense & National Security Opioids

July 24, 2024

Washington, D.C. (July 24, 2024)—Below is Ranking Member Robert Garcia’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today’s Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs hearing on wasteful spending and inefficiencies in the Department of Defense’s (DOD) weapons procurement process.

Subcommittees

National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs (118th Congress)

Issues: Defense & National Security National Security Issues

Ranking Member Raskin, Garcia, Warren, Members of Congress Urge DoD to Stop Subsidizing Sale of Military-Grade Weapons to Civilians

July 15, 2024

"DoD must ensure that public tax dollars no longer subsidize the production of military-grade ammunition that finds its way onto our streets and fuels mass shootings."

Subcommittees

National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs (118th Congress)

Issues: Defense & National Security

Ranking Member Mfume’s Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing Examining DOD’s Background Check System

June 26, 2024

Washington, D.C. (June 26, 2024)—Below is Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today’s Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce hearing examining the Department of Defense’s (DOD) personnel vetting system and the IT system at its core: the National Background Information Services (NBIS).

Subcommittees