Stefanik Leads Intelligence Committee Review of Post 9/11 Intelligence Reforms

House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik led an Intelligence Committee hearing to discuss the progress made on intelligence-related recommendations made in the 9/11 Commission Report and identify possible gaps and areas for improvement. This hearing is part of a year-long bipartisan review of the 9/11 Commission Report recommendations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks later this year.

Read a full transcript of her opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Elise Stefanik: Thank you to Chairman Crawford, Ranking Member Himes, and my Co-Chair Congressman Gottheimer for working with me to convene today's vitally important hearing. This is our FIFTH hearing or briefing as part of this commission.

Twenty-five years ago, our Nation endured the September 11th terrorist attacks that were beyond comprehension and forever changed the course of American history.

In the aftermath of 9/11, it became clear that our national security and intelligence architecture needed to evolve to meet a rapidly changing threat landscape. The reforms that followed strengthened coordination, intelligence sharing, and our ability to detect and disrupt threats on our homeland.

Today's hearing is an opportunity to examine those reforms, assess what has worked, identify areas that require modernization, and ensure we continue adapting to emerging threats of today and the future.

The purpose of this commission is to review the effectiveness of the reforms that emerged from the 9/11 Commission Report and to evaluate whether our intelligence and national security institutions are fully equipped to address today's challenges and tomorrow's threats.

While the world has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, one reality remains constant: America continues to face determined adversaries who seek to exploit vulnerabilities and undermine our national security.

We are now confronting a rapidly evolving threat environment that includes advanced drone technologies, foreign malign influence operations, cyberattacks, biothreats, and artificial intelligence developments with profound national security implications.

Congress has a responsibility to confront these issues directly. We must ensure that our national security and intelligence institutions remain agile, forward-looking, and prepared to stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape before our adversaries can exploit gaps.

Today we are joined by a panel of witnesses who played significant roles in strengthening our intelligence community and national security framework in the years following 9/11.

Thank you all for being here today. I look forward to your testimony and to a thoughtful discussion on how we continue protecting the American people in an increasingly complex threat environment.

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Permalink: https://stefanik.house.gov/2026/6/stefanik-leads-intelligence-committee-review-of-post-9-11-intelligence-reforms