Mike Lawler: U.S. Counterterrorism Programs Are 'Vital Arm' Of National Security

During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) spoke about funding to the Bureau Of Counterterrorism.

Transcript

00:00The Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa will come to order.

00:09The purpose of this hearing is to assess the budgetary posture and strategic direction

00:14of the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism for Fiscal Year 2026.

00:18I now recognize myself for an opening statement.

00:22Today we convene to conduct oversight of the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism

00:27and review its budgetary posture and strategic priorities for fiscal year 2026.

00:33I want to thank our witness, Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Gregory LaJerfo, for appearing

00:39before us today.

00:41The Bureau of Counterterrorism is a vital arm of America's national security strategy.

00:47It plays a leading role in coordinating U.S. counterterrorism policy, engaging foreign partners

00:53to disrupt threats before they reach our shores, and supporting global efforts to confront terrorism

00:58in all its forms.

01:00From its role in special operations, to diplomatic engagement, to training programs, the Bureau

01:06is on the front lines of protecting the American people.

01:09As terrorism threats are becoming more diffused, adaptive, and globally networked, we must ensure

01:15the Bureau is equipped to respond with agility, efficiency, and strategic foresight.

01:21In the Middle East, this means confronting the malign influence of Iran-backed proxy groups

01:26such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, while sustaining pressure on ISIS, whose presence

01:31in the region remains a serious concern.

01:34And it is with this background that we examine the Bureau of Counterterrorism's budget.

01:39During this hearing today, we will assess how the Bureau is delivering measurable security

01:43dividends for U.S. taxpayers through its foreign assistance programming, particularly through

01:48its anti-terrorism assistance and the worldwide security program.

01:53We will also explore the extent to which the Bureau's budget requests will enable personnel

01:59to adapt to new geopolitical threats while maintaining coordination across the interagency and international

02:05partners.

02:06We must also consider whether the State Department's reorganization has impacted outcomes and how the

02:12Bureau is responding to its expanded scope.

02:16We must determine if the State Department has the tools, authorities, and structure to preserve

02:21its capacity to respond to regional complexities.

02:24Finally, I want to emphasize that the effective counterterrorism policy demands a strong partnership

02:30between Congress and the Department that is grounded in transparency, oversight, and shared

02:35strategic vision.

02:37As we move toward reauthorization and review of the Department's fiscal year 2026 plan, this

02:43subcommittee is committed to ensuring that the Bureau of Counterterrorism has the resources

02:47and guidance it needs to remain a global leader in combating our world's most dangerous threats.

02:54Mr. Legerfo, we look forward to your testimony and to a robust discussion of how we can work

03:00together to safeguard the United States and our allies in an increasingly complex threat environment.

03:07With that, I now recognize the Ranking Member from the Department.