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“To Receive Testimony on United States Cyber Command in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program”

Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity

April 9, 2025 (recording linked here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses and Written Testimony:

• Lieutenant General William J. Hartman: Acting Commander, United States Cyber Command/ Acting Director, National Security Agency/ Acting Chief, Central Security Service

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

IN THEIR WORDS

SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE

• Subcommittee Chair Rounds noted the scarcity of experienced cyber leaders and criticized Hawk’s departure without strong justification. Rounds emphasized the strategic importance of the dual-hat command structure and the growing cyber threat landscape. He supported Cybercom 2.0 as a key effort to ensure readiness against evolving adversaries like China.

• Full Committee Ranking Member Reed condemned the sudden firing of General Hawk, calling it disrespectful and politically motivated. He warned that the decision endangered national security and dismissed the credibility of those behind it. He closed by urging that such actions must not be repeated.

• Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosen expressed concern over General Hawk’s unexplained dismissal. She criticized the decision as reckless and influenced by conspiracy-driven outsiders. Rosen stressed the need for stable leadership amid increasing threats from adversaries like Russia and China. She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Cyber Command and ensuring national cybersecurity.

SUMMARY OF WITNESS STATEMENT

• Lieutenant General Hartman reaffirmed Cybercom’s mission to defend against cyber threats and support national defense. He highlighted the need for deterrence, agility, and strong partnerships, particularly through Cybercom 2.0. Hartman identified AI integration and workforce excellence as critical to future cyber operations. He concluded with confidence in Cybercom’s readiness to stay ahead of adversaries.

SUMMARY OF KEY Q&A

• Chair Rounds asked how the dual-hat structure between Cyber Command and NSA had adapted to Chinese cyber threats. Lt. Gen. Hartman said the arrangement enabled faster, more coordinated operations and better intelligence protection. On NSPM-13, he noted it made cyber operations more agile and ten times more frequent. He added that Cybercom 2.0, developed with broad consensus in 45 days, focuses on improving talent, training, and innovation.

• Ranking Member Rosen questioned the policy obstacles hindering Cyber Command’s coordination and development. Lt. Gen. Hartman pointed to progress made with federal lab authorities and pilot programs in Guam, noting a 25% threat reduction. He also highlighted the need for improved integration of the Reserve component and partnerships with DHS, the Coast Guard, and others, while calling for additional policy and budgetary support. Regarding workforce challenges, he explained that hiring had improved through Cyber Excepted Service but acknowledged the hiring freeze's negative impact, especially as the civilian workforce remained just over 50% staffed.

• Chair Rounds asked about Cyber Command’s response to China’s AI advancements. Lt. Gen. Hartman explained that Cyber Command had shifted focus from planning to operationalizing AI through 90-day pilot projects, integrating large language models into both offensive and defensive capabilities. He emphasized the U.S.’s software development superiority and partnerships with DARPA and industry as key to maintaining an edge over China.

• Ranking Member Rosen followed up on workforce readiness and how Cyber Command was adapting its training pipeline. Lt. Gen. Hartman emphasized the goal of taking service members and civilians from basic to expert levels in areas like AI, cloud computing, and data science. He said Cybercom 2.0 aimed to align training with operational needs and was being strengthened through partnerships with industry and academic centers. Crater authority was also enabling collaboration with private sector talent.

• Sen. King raised concerns about the lack of cyber deterrence, arguing that without consequences, adversaries would continue attacking. Lt. Gen. Hartman agreed on the need for credible deterrent options and confirmed that efforts were underway to counter persistent threats like Volt Typhoon. He committed to providing further details in a classified setting.

  Senator King stressed that capability alone was not enough and that doctrine and the will to act were necessary components of deterrence.

• Chair Rounds asked how Cyber Command was addressing concerns about slow acquisition timelines in the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA). Lt. Gen. Hartman said new service-like authorities had allowed Cyber Command to consolidate acquisition under a dedicated office and align efforts with combatant commanders. He confirmed that relevant, non-obsolete capabilities were being fielded and that updates would be provided to the committee.

• Ranking Member Rosen asked for clarification on "living off the land" tactics and what else Congress should know. Lt. Gen. Hartman explained that these tactics involved adversaries using legitimate credentials to remain undetected within networks. He stressed the importance of AI and private sector collaboration in detecting such threats.

• Sen. King voiced concern over reported cuts to CISA, especially its interface with state election officials. While Lt. Gen. Hartman could not speak to internal CISA decisions, he confirmed continued collaboration with CISA leadership.

  Sen. King warned that dismantling trust built between CISA and private or state entities could harm national security, especially amid increasing cyber attacks. He urged the subcommittee to treat these reductions with serious concern.

“A Time for Truth: Oversight of Meta’s Foreign Relations and Representations to the United States Congress”

House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism

April 9, 2025 (recording linked here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses and Written Testimony:

• Ms. Sarah Wynn-Williams: Former Director of Global Public Policy

  Facebook

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

IN THEIR WORDS

SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE

• Subcommittee Chair Hawley opened the hearing by highlighting Facebook's desperate attempts to prevent the testimony. Hawley emphasized that Facebook is one of the most powerful companies in world history and had gone to extreme lengths to silence the whistleblower. He noted that the company had sued the witness, sought a gag order, and threatened her with $50,000 in punitive damages for each public mention of Facebook. Hawley accused Mark Zuckerberg of working closely with the Chinese Communist Party and making censorship his business model. He declared that the hearing was part of a full-scale investigation into Facebook's potential illegal behavior.

• Ranking Member Durbin thanked the chairman and the witness for her courage in testifying. He compared Facebook's actions to those of Big Tobacco, highlighting how the company consistently chose profits over people's safety. Durbin recounted his previous efforts to press Facebook on its potential cooperation with the Chinese government, noting that the company had previously declined to testify about its operations. He emphasized the need for regulation, drawing parallels to how Congress eventually held tobacco companies accountable. Durbin expressed hope that this hearing would be a tipping point in addressing big tech's harmful practices.

• Full Committee Chair Grassley spoke about his long-standing support for whistleblowers throughout his 50-year congressional career. He highlighted his work on whistleblower protection laws and noted the importance of whistleblowers in exposing fraud and abuse. Grassley expressed concern about tech companies' efforts to silence those who speak out, mentioning his recent letter to OpenAI about whistleblower silencing. He specifically addressed the threats against Sarah Wynn Williams, criticizing Meta's attempts to financially penalize her for speaking out. Grassley pledged to conduct a thorough investigation and called on Meta to fully cooperate.

• Sen. Blumenthal praised Williams' courage in standing up to Meta, a massive economic and political force. He condemned Meta's campaign of threats and intimidation, calling it hypocritical for a supposed free speech champion. Blumenthal detailed the company's history of lying about harm to young people, including mental health issues and addiction. He highlighted Meta's efforts to lobby against regulations and their attempts to influence government agencies. Blumenthal emphasized the importance of holding the company accountable for its actions and protecting children from its harmful practices.

• Sen. Klobuchar reflected on the lonely journey of initially challenging big tech companies, starting with efforts like the Honest Ads Act. She discussed the intense lobbying against any regulatory efforts and the platforms' resistance to consumer protections. Klobuchar highlighted the platforms' failure to address issues like drug sales, mental illness, and exploitation of children. She emphasized the bipartisan nature of recent efforts to regulate big tech and the growing coalition of supporters. Klobuchar stressed the need for continued efforts to hold these companies accountable for their harmful practices.

SUMMARY OF WITNESS STATEMENT

• Mr. Wynn-Williams testified that during her seven years at Facebook, she witnessed executives repeatedly undermining U.S. national security and betraying American values. She accused the company of lying to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public about their activities in China. Williams detailed Facebook's efforts to construct censorship tools for the Chinese Communist Party and their willingness to provide user data to Chinese officials. She explained that the company's secret mission to enter China was called Project Aldrin and was restricted to need-to-know staff. Williams emphasized that she came forward at considerable personal risk to expose the truth about Meta's actions.

SUMMARY OF KEY Q&A

• Chair Hawley asked about Facebook's efforts to break into the Chinese market. He asked her to confirm whether Facebook's statement about not doing business in China was true. Ms. Wynn-Williams revealed that Facebook had an $18.3 billion business in China, including launching multiple apps since 2014-2015. She detailed how the company was obsessed with entering the Chinese market primarily for profit and power. Chair Hawley then asked about Facebook's censorship practices, specifically asking about the case of dissident Guo Wengui. Ms. Wynn-Williams confirmed that Facebook shut down the dissident's page based on pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. She highlighted internal documents showing Facebook's deliberate discussions about how to respond to Chinese government requests.

• Chairman Grassley focused his questions on Facebook's efforts to help China compete technologically. He asked about the company's goals in briefing Chinese officials on artificial intelligence. Ms. Wynn-Williams explained that Facebook saw value in providing technical expertise to Chinese officials, potentially helping them reduce reliance on American firms like Cisco and IBM.

• Sen. Blumenthal inquired about the extent of Facebook's attempts to silence Ms. Wynn-Williams. She described aggressive threats from the company, including a gag order that could impose $50,000 in damages for each truthful statement about Meta. Sen. Blumenthal was particularly concerned about the arbitration process, which Ms. Wynn-Williams explained was conducted without her knowledge or legal representation.

• Sen. Blackburn asked about Facebook's targeting of vulnerable children, with Ms. Wynn-Williams confirming that the company deliberately tracked teenage users' emotional states to sell targeted advertising. She revealed that Facebook would identify when 13-17 year olds felt "worthless" or "helpless" and share this information with advertisers. Sen. Blackburn explored the company's tracking practices, with Ms. Wynn-Williams explaining that Facebook monitored user activities across platforms, creating what she called a "virtual you" of an individual. She highlighted how the company could track users' transactions and movements between different applications.

• Ranking Member Durbin asked about Facebook's internal strategy, comparing their approach to Big Tobacco's tactics of denial and resistance to regulation. Ms. Wynn-Williams confirmed that executives deliberately discussed how to navigate public perception of being a dangerous company, explicitly referencing Big Tobacco's playbook. Ranking Member Durbin explored the hypocrisy of Facebook executives, with Ms. Wynn-Williams revealing that many top leaders kept their own children off the platforms, implementing strict screen bans and refusing to let teenagers use Facebook and Instagram. She emphasized that these executives were well aware of the potential harm their products could cause.

• Sen. Klobuchar questioned Williams about Facebook's impact on news media and advertising. Williams explained that the company was obsessed with engagement, using news content and AI to keep users on their platforms. She confirmed that the company viewed outrage as a profitable strategy for maintaining user attention.

• Chair. Hawley's final line of questioning focused on Facebook's targeting of vulnerable users, particularly teenagers and young mothers. Ms. Wynn-Williams confirmed that the company had researched and developed advertising strategies targeting users in emotional distress, including teenage girls and young mothers. She emphasized that this was done purely for profit, despite the potential emotional harm.

“Reducing Waste, Fraud and Abuse Through Innovation: How AI & Data Can Improve Government Efficiency”

Joint Economic Committee

April 9, 2025 (recording linked here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses:

• Dr. Brian J. Miller: Nonresident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

• Dr. Sterling Thomas: Chief Scientist, Government Accountability Office

• Mr. Neil Chilson: Head of AI Policy, Abundance Institute

• Mr. Andrew Cannarsa: Executive Director, Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

IN THEIR WORDS

SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE

• Chair Schweikert emphasized his office’s long-standing efforts to introduce AI legislation aimed at auditing government operations, especially in defense and healthcare. He underscored the potential of technology to address systemic cost drivers without compromising quality and introduced the panel of expert witnesses.

• Ranking Member Hassan expressed bipartisan support for using innovation to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. She highlighted the promise of data analytics and AI but voiced concern about recent inspector general firings and warned against cost-cutting measures that harm vulnerable populations.

SUMMARY OF WITNESS STATEMENT

• Dr. Thomas outlined AI’s potential to improve government efficiency, stressing the importance of combining AI with quality data and skilled oversight. He called for continuing traditional fraud prevention efforts while enhancing agency capabilities through thoughtful technology use.

• Dr. Miller focused on Medicare and Medicaid reforms, recommending automation of eligibility processes, improved coding systems, and streamlined prior authorization. He argued that targeted use of technology could eliminate inefficiencies and ensure fair, accurate program administration.

• Mr. Chilson stated that while private companies are using AI to reduce waste and boost efficiency, the federal government has barely begun. He highlighted that only 17 of over 2,100 AI use cases in federal agencies target fraud, waste, or abuse. He described proven tools like anomaly detection and natural language processing that could improve benefits administration and procurement. Chilson concluded that adopting AI could save billions and improve services if the government commits to modernization.

• Mr. Cannarsa highlighted the inspector general community’s longstanding oversight role and their $71 billion impact in FY2024. He stressed that data analytics and AI are critical tools in identifying fraud and called for continued support to expand these capabilities.

SUMMARY OF KEY Q&A

• Vice Chair Schmitt asked why agencies fail to act on fraud recommendations and if AI is being used effectively. Dr. Miller cited political resistance and lack of operational follow-through said no, AI was not. Mr. Cannarsa and Mr. Chilson emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and clear ownership within agencies.

• Ranking Member Hassan asked about data-sharing among IGs. Mr. Cannarsa described successful fraud detection during the pandemic through SBA and DOL IGs with help from PACE. He recommended expanding PACE for broader fraud prevention. Dr. Thomas stressed the need for data access, quality, and inter-agency collaboration.

• Rep. Malliotakis raised concerns about check fraud. Dr. Thomas and Mr. Chilson recommended expanding direct deposit and applying private-sector fraud tools.

  On SSA data-sharing, Dr. Thomas noted privacy and data validation challenges as key barriers.

• Rep. Beyer questioned AI-driven staffing cuts and asked about safeguards. Mr. Chilson pointed to OMB guidance on ethical AI use. Dr. Miller said CMS, not AHRQ, needs embedded AI capacity to manage healthcare programs effectively.

• Rep. Estes decried partisan resistance to fraud prevention. Dr. Thomas outlined GAO’s fraud risk framework. Mr. Chilson emphasized that AI can improve accuracy and speed for legitimate beneficiaries while catching fraud.

• Rep. Min asked how to define efficiency over time. Dr. Thomas and Mr. Cannarsa said both short- and long-term goals matter.

  Rep. Min affirmed the need for IG oversight and criticized recent IG removals, which Mr. Cannarsa clarified did not dissolve IG offices.

• Rep. Spartz pressed for more automation in audits. Dr. Thomas supported controls but warned AI is not yet error-free. Dr. Miller supported automation to reduce improper payments and improve healthcare value.

• Rep. Casten asked how to handle political and ethical trade-offs in AI design. Dr. Thomas emphasized data quality and ethical modeling. GAO had just begun reviewing DOGE’s use of AI, so no assessment was yet available.

• Chair Schweikert asked about centralized AI systems and healthcare reforms. Dr. Thomas said the tech exists but policy barriers remain. Dr. Miller recommended automating Medicaid eligibility, standardizing diagnosis coding, and digitizing prior authorization to reduce costs and improve care.

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