Dayton Reporter

Representative Rick Crawford has been appointed as the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In a statement released from Washington, D.C., Rep. Crawford expressed his gratitude for the appointment and emphasized his commitment to working with Speaker Johnson and the Trump administration to advance important priorities.

Crawford, who has been a member of the committee since 2017, highlighted concerns about abuses within the nation's security apparatus that have compromised trust in institutions and America's intelligence-gathering capabilities. He stated, "As Chairman, I will aggressively uphold our mandate to provide credible and robust oversight of the Intelligence Community’s funding and activities."

He stressed the importance of protecting Americans' Fourth Amendment rights while supporting intelligence operations. Crawford said, "Without aggressive oversight and vigorous protection of Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights, the IC is prone to give in to mission creep and skirt U.S. laws."

The new chairman also criticized what he termed as failures of the Biden administration, suggesting that Congress now has an opportunity to correct course by promoting peace through strength and refocusing intelligence efforts against adversaries. He noted current threats from terrorists, rogue regimes, and foreign state-actors as pressing challenges.

Rep. Crawford underlined the necessity for secrecy within intelligence operations: "Leaks and indiscretions by misguided intelligence staff can endanger Americans." He added that ensuring security depends on maintaining confidentiality regarding reviewed materials.

Looking ahead, Crawford aims to rebuild relationships with partners in the Western Hemisphere, improve intelligence assessments, determine necessary tools for protection, and support U.S. intelligence personnel. He concluded by acknowledging his predecessor's contributions: "I want to thank Chairman Turner for his work in the 118th Congress...I will build from the solid base his leadership provided this committee."