September 2, 2026
Press Release
Intelligence Committee hearing also examined growing threats to U.S. critical infrastructure and Russian aggression against the Baltics
WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today blasted Trump Administration cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the federal government’s lead cybersecurity agency, as national security experts warned that defenses protecting critical infrastructure in communities across the country remain dangerously weak. During a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, Dr. Seth Jones confirmed his assessment that some U.S. cyber defenses, particularly among municipalities, are “shockingly poor.” Krishnamoorthi pointed to reports of cyberattacks on water systems across at least 12 states this summer before noting that the Trump Administration cut CISA’s workforce by nearly one-third last year. Krishnamoorthi called for strengthening the agency as threats to critical infrastructure grow, rather than cutting its capacity.
“There is no question that with the end of the Cold War and then the terrorism focus of the last quarter century, our counterintelligence architecture deserves a hard look to make sure the government is connecting the dots in our new era of strategic competition. On a bipartisan basis, we have worked with the majority as they focused on this issue, and this open hearing will help advance the goal of an aggressive but measured approach to improving what exists,” Krishnamoorthi said.
Krishnamoorthi also pressed witnesses on growing Russian threats to the Baltics as rapidly evolving drone technology creates new challenges for protecting military and civilian infrastructure. He cited witness David Feith’s testimony that direct threats to critical infrastructure, particularly from drones, “have matured with astonishing speed over the last five years,” and pressed witnesses on what more can be done now to deter a Russian attack on the Baltics.
Witnesses described the increasing use of inexpensive armed drones, the difficulty of defending critical facilities against them, and efforts by Baltic countries to strengthen their counter-drone capabilities. Krishnamoorthi, who recently traveled to Ukraine, warned that Russia could use drone attacks against the Baltics to test NATO resolve.
The hearing examined whether the United States’ national security and counterintelligence architecture is keeping pace with threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries. In his opening statement, Krishnamoorthi called for hardening U.S. cyber defenses, better connecting information across the federal government, and ensuring information collected by law enforcement does not remain isolated within individual investigations.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s opening statement from the hearing is availablehereand his questioning of the witnesses can be viewedhere.
