Dayton Reporter

Today, Chairman Rick Crawford of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a statement after a closed budget hearing for fiscal year 2026. The hearing involved Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Dustin Gard-Weis, who is currently performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security.

Chairman Crawford expressed his appreciation for the testimonies provided by DNI Gabbard and Mr. Gard-Weis. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that intelligence agencies have adequate resources to counter emerging threats. "We are now witnessing a threat environment where adversarial nation-state actors are teaming up in a shared ambition to displace the United States as a global leader," Crawford stated, highlighting China as a significant concern.

Crawford also stressed the need for an enhanced counterintelligence posture and urged that open-source intelligence (OSINT) receive more focus and resources from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). "OSINT has evolved dramatically, augmenting HUMINT and SIGINT efforts to play a central role in real-time analysis and supporting tactical operations," he noted.

Additionally, Crawford addressed concerns regarding misconduct within the acting Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG). He mentioned ongoing investigative efforts into these issues and expressed his intent to work with DNI Gabbard and Ranking Member Himes to ensure proper oversight. "Anything less impedes oversight," he concluded.