Bureau of Counterterrorism FY26 Budget Posture Hearing
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism
2025-07-23
Loading video...
Source: Congress.gov
Summary
No summary available.
Participants
Transcript
The Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa will come to order. The purpose of this hearing is to assess the budgetary posture and strategic direction of the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism for fiscal year 2026. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Today we convene to conduct oversight of the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism and review its budgetary posture and strategic priorities for fiscal year 2026. I want to thank our witness, Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Gregory Legerfo, for appearing before us today. The Bureau of Counterterrorism is a vital arm of America's national security strategy. It plays a leading role in coordinating U.S. counterterrorism policy, engaging foreign partners to disrupt threats before they reach our shores, and supporting global efforts to confront terrorism in all its forms. From its role in special operations to diplomatic engagement to training programs, the Bureau is on the front lines of protecting the American people. As terrorism threats are becoming more diffused, adaptive, and globally networked, we must ensure the Bureau is equipped to respond with agility, efficiency, and strategic foresight. In the Middle East, this means confronting the malign influence of Iran-backed proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, while sustaining pressure on ISIS, whose presence in the region remains a serious concern. And it is with this background that we examine the Bureau of Counterterrorism's budget. During this hearing today, we'll assess how the Bureau is delivering measurable security dividends for U.S. taxpayers through its foreign assistance programming, particularly through its anti-terrorism assistance and the worldwide security program. We will also explore the extent to which The Bureau's budget request will enable personnel to adapt to new geopolitical threats while maintaining coordination across the interagency and international partners.
We must also consider whether the State Department's reorganization has impacted outcomes and how the Bureau is responding to its expanded scope. We must determine if the State Department has the tools, authorities, and structure to preserve its capacity to respond to regional complexities. Finally, I want to emphasize that the effective counterterrorism policy demands a strong partnership between Congress and the Department that is grounded in transparency, oversight, and shared strategic vision. As we move toward reauthorization and review of the Department's fiscal year 2026 plan, this subcommittee is committed to ensuring that the Bureau of Counterterrorism has the resources and guidance it needs to remain a global leader in combating our world's most dangerous threats. Mr. Legerfo, we look forward to your testimony and to a robust discussion of how we can work together to safeguard the United States and our allies in an increasingly complex threat environment. With that, I now recognize the ranking member from Florida, Congresswoman Sheila Scherfelis McCormick, for five minutes for her opening statement.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening today's hearing on the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism. I want to thank Acting Coordinator Lee Groffro for being here today and for your many years of public service. For decades, the State Department's CT Bureau has worked hand in hand with our allies and partners to disrupt terrorist networks, prevent radicalization, and support the capacity of governments around the world to do the same. It is through this vital work that we have built the international coalition expertise and tools that help keep Americans safe around the world. Yet this administration has chosen to gut it all. On July 11, the Trump administration issued RIFS orders to over 1,300 State Department employees. This included numerous CT experts across the department. Among those fired was the entire team working on the counter-violent extremists, or CVE. This office worked on prevented radicalization before it took hold. Today's global terrorist threats remain significant, and we need the best people working on the mitigation and prevention work. This administration also gutted the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, known as PRM. For decades, PRM has supported refugees and provided humanitarian assistance around the world. helping to alleviate conflict, displacement, and poverty that terrorist groups exploit. The administration didn't stop there. It also gutted the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. And the vast majority of the department's programs aimed at protecting the rights of individuals who are marginalized and may feel they have no other choice than to turn to extremism to address their grievances. Then there's the dismantling of USAID. an agency that for decades worked in some of the world's most volatile regions to provide lifesaving assistance and build livelihoods.
This administration's promise of lifesaving assistance would continue. Just weeks later, The Atlantic reported that the administration ordered over 500 metric tons of emergency food to be incinerated rather than delivering it to the starving populations who need it. How do we think that headline plays with the terrorist groups
Sign up for free to see the full transcript
Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.