Press Releases

Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, made the following remarks on the hearing titled “Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request for U.S. Cyber Command: Preparing for Operations in the Cyber Domain.” For testimony and to watch the hearing click here.

"I am pleased to welcome everyone here today for this hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request for United States Cyber Command. Since we last met to talk about the work of U.S. CYBERCOM, the news has been filled with stories that remind us of the critical job facing the Department of Defense. From the intrusion on the Joint Staff networks to the compromise of personal information of millions of government personnel and their families, cyber is proving to be both a domain of warfare on its own, as well as a key enabler for all other domains of war.

In looking through this most recent budget request, we should be asking ourselves some important questions:

• Do we have the resources, people, cyber tools, and training needed to be effective?
• Do we have the necessary policies and authorities to conduct cyber operations? What areas require additional refinement?
• Are we deterring potential adversaries, and contributing to our overall national security?

As we tackle these tough questions, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome back our witness here today, Admiral Michael Rogers, Commander of U.S. Cyber Command

One of the major tasks Admiral Rogers has to contend with is how to operate in an environment with our inter-agency, international, and industry partners. I am pleased to hear that in a major upcoming exercise, entitled Cyber Guard 16, personnel from the House Administration staff will be participating. I am especially looking forward to hearing the plans for that exercise, and how we might also apply its lessons in defending the House of Representative’s networks."