East Central Alabama News

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, delivered a poignant opening statement at a hearing on the U.S. defense intelligence enterprise's posture and capabilities on April 12, 2024.

In his address, Rep. Bergman set the tone for the hearing, stating, "Today we will hear from our witnesses on the Defense Intelligence Enterprise’s Posture and Capabilities in Strategic Competition and in Synchronizing Intelligence Efforts to Counter the People’s Republic of China."

Highlighting the complex global landscape, Bergman emphasized, "The Department’s efforts are focused on China as the priority of the National Defense Strategy, but once again, as we hold this hearing, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been raging for more than two years; North Korea continues to test nuclear missiles... and threats from terrorist organizations are still persistent across the globe."

Acknowledging the multifaceted challenges faced by the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, Bergman noted, "The Defense Intelligence Enterprise has a challenging task to support the Department’s efforts in strategic competition, counter China, and support the remaining Geographic Combatant Commanders to counter increased threats in their areas of operations, as well as their persistent counterterrorism efforts. This is by no means an easy task."

As the hearing delved into discussions on synchronizing efforts and addressing capability gaps, Rep. Jack Bergman expressed his keen interest in understanding the roles of the stakeholders involved in ensuring the effectiveness of intelligence operations.

The hearing, with its focus on countering threats and enhancing intelligence capabilities, underscored the critical importance of strategic planning and collaboration in safeguarding national security interests in an increasingly complex global environment.