HR McMaster says US counterintelligence is ‘far behind’
H.R. McMaster, who previously served as national security adviser under Trump, testified before lawmakers that the U.S. has allowed countries like China and Russia to enhance their espionage and cyber operations due to an overemphasis on terrorism since the 9/11 attacks. He described this oversight as a form of “gross negligence.”
During a hearing with the House Intelligence Committee, McMaster expressed concern that counterintelligence threats are not being adequately addressed. He stated that the nation’s focus on counterterrorism has left it vulnerable to hostile nation-states.
Committee Chairman Rick Crawford raised the question of whether prioritizing counterterrorism has detracted from dealing with threats from countries that hold significant global power. McMaster agreed, highlighting that both Russia and China are capitalizing on this lack of focus.
He pointed to specific instances, such as Putin’s efforts to restore Russia’s dominance and China’s rise in global economics after joining the World Trade Organization, which he believes has enabled Beijing to bolster its military capabilities with U.S. technology.
“We seem to be falling behind and even negligent,” he remarked, indicating that there’s much work ahead to close the gap in national security. McMaster claimed that the U.S. has essentially welcomed Chinese influences into its economy, risking its own technological and intellectual property.
He added that U.S. companies and investors are unwittingly contributing to their own vulnerability by funding Chinese firms connected to military and cyber endeavors.
Several other witnesses echoed McMaster’s warnings, suggesting that agencies formed post-9/11 are still overly focused on terrorism, thereby neglecting conventional espionage and cyber threats from adversarial governments.
National security expert Seth G. Jones asserted that while agencies like the National Counterterrorism Center have improved information sharing, there is still insufficient capability to manage state-sponsored threats on American soil.
Jones noted a troubling lack of awareness among state and local governments regarding espionage activities within their jurisdictions. He expressed doubt about the current infrastructure to handle such intelligence operations effectively.
Frank Silphy, from Auburn University, emphasized the necessity for a coordinated approach that goes beyond mere information sharing to actively involve private sector participation to combat these advanced threats.
Finally, a testament emerged that counterintelligence challenges have evolved past traditional means; now, foreign intelligence agencies are targeting tech firms and organizations that possess critical data and capabilities. “Businesses never thought they’d need to protect against foreign intelligence,” Cilfo noted, highlighting the need for increased vigilance. The hearing is part of a broader bipartisan review of national intelligence preparedness against new threats, such as AI, cyberattacks, and economic coercion.
