[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6072860,"mediaKeyId","3003896-53ef322794550e22ba52652d10b73ec3","parentId",3003896,"title","Senators press for answers after sudden firing of General Hawk; warn of risks to cyber mission","audioSeconds",207,"startMs",1916000,"endMs",2123000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003896-53ef322794550e22ba52652d10b73ec3&start=1916&end=2123","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003896-53ef322794550e22ba52652d10b73ec3/thumbnail_1916000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6072860/Senators-press-for-answers-after-sudden-firing-of-General-Hawk-warn-of-risks-to-cyber-mission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072860-b2cab5cdfe4138d4826dc151050c8fa3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770515959&Signature=ELpyaicd8yYFe5KmUIk75h0JmUcr3Snc9--OlwOa5n3~1byqhxYo5PbQweOi1KNRH3HvbWaVQ1Q8K3gKrasyijbSOlOpw~mdWs-0d8sC7Gus0lRQ4EsnI7i7bT6aOwxvEJOtlTQ58M~kpXGeTekdzU-BOEMFvNzdM8sxo3g3fXd1A2Lhkv3FveChchTg55VxCKerPXsB8L~hna~Xuh1MEqAybomgAE~DrOdjk9qdXU4mECYx8eueQv9N19pEEqskapyKPnCI0G5x-hGVKfi383ovYZI1WSRGCtFO6Kn7kOhK-8JhFw3xGquGlv3NKCbg0KBynmzfd7nxKkYysn3RPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","Senators on the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee criticized the sudden removal of General Hawk from senior cyber leadership and pressed the administration for clarity and accountability during a hearing with Lieutenant General Hartman of U.S. Cyber Command.

\"His sudden and inexplicable firing is disrespectful to his service,\" said Senator Rosen, the panel's ranking member. She said the removal, which she described as occurring \"in the dead of night with absolutely no consultation with Congress,\" risks undermining intelligence operations and continuity in cyber command and control.

Why it matters: Multiple senators said continuity in senior cyber leadership matters because national cyber operations require long training timelines and specialized expertise. They warned that abrupt personnel changes can damage deterrence, planning and relationships with industry and allies.

Senator Rosen argued the removal appears to have been influenced by an outside private individual and said it \"compromises Cybercom and the NSA ability to keep Americans safe.\" She called for clarity from the administration and for Congress to demand answers and accountability.

Senator King echoed concerns about national deterrence in the cyber domain, saying capacity exists but that the United States lacks a clear doctrine that imposes cost on adversaries. \"Do you agree with me that we need to have a more, stronger retaliatory capacity, number 1, and demonstrate the will to use it?\" King asked during questioning. Hartman replied that Cyber Command is improving capabilities and developing options to deter and respond, and offered to provide additional detail in closed settings.

Chairman Rounds opened the hearing by acknowledging Hartman's service and thanking the witness and his family for their sacrifice. Hartman noted in his opening remarks that the cyber mission force has matured since its 2009 inception and emphasized continuity of operations under new leadership arrangements.

Ending: Senators said they would pursue further information and potential classified briefings. The panel requested that the administration provide a fuller explanation for the firing of General Hawk and that Cyber Command and others continue to brief Congress on force readiness and options to deter adversaries.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","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","oneSentenceSummary","Senators on the Cybersecurity Subcommittee condemned the sudden removal of General Hawk, urged the administration to explain the decision and warned it risks undermining continuity and deterrence in the cyber mission force.","taxTitle","Armed Services: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1987,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6072867,"Cyber Command details Cybercom 2.0, AI pilots and workforce shortfalls to Senate panel",2012,2156000,4168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3003896-53ef322794550e22ba52652d10b73ec3&start=2156&end=4168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3003896-53ef322794550e22ba52652d10b73ec3/thumbnail_2156000.jpg","/articles/6072867/Cyber-Command-details-Cybercom-20-AI-pilots-and-workforce-shortfalls-to-Senate-panel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072867-7a82998bbdf5c074ef31549ac83ee617/orig.mp4?Expires=1770515960&Signature=Iouq-DMeSrNCrD2VUFWHM8u1bw579Y6Mw~hutUMfcgVH1YNvySSZIwJbo53k1jg3jfiQQnLDHUwZkBQ8ZMVQ7tGWITuqSsrIUizLF3-qcEe25h~d6XUZHVrsoduik97BlnSfqtGBokU-VlCRV5Y2hLCodl6p5uNrnFVYKiUMFqZTDHtqSsynydnOWuYPqAXPTzQIYq2WpYYF9NsF4lP7-3ktWS92bY2f-jWHU1wvNkZSU9tOFYyuYv3HJmoBpM6-A~XTsM84yZM0oQ5IA8wWkLTwcmZdnVW-chveLwayjuocT5R1gYalgutbwqndRo87yLPxzYr11wsjUwwGHAP87w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lieutenant General Hartman, representing U.S. Cyber Command, told the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee that Cyber Command is executing a multi‑front modernization effort that centers on Cybercom 2.0, accelerated artificial intelligence pilots and an expanded talent pipeline.

Hartman said Cyber Command\u0000s mission is \"straightforward. We defend the nation from cyber threats.\" He described a recently delivered Cybercom 2.0 package of recommendations that focuses on talent management, advanced training and rapid capability insertion. \"We've delivered it to the department. The department is going through a very reasonable process, and we're pending the results of that feedback from the department, chairman,\" he said.

Why it matters: Cyber Command said it needs to accelerate acquisition and training to keep pace with state actors and rapidly evolving commercial AI tools. The command told senators it has new ‘‘service‑like’’ authorities and acquisition control that it says are already helping it field capabilities faster, but that implementation depends on departmental decisions and congressional support for resourcing and hiring flexibility.

Hartman defended the dual‑hat arrangement with the National Security Agency and credited NSPM‑13 with enabling faster, authorized offensive cyber operations. \"NSPM 13 is a repeatable, sustainable, agile process ... and it has increased our ability to execute cyber operations tenfold,\" he said.

On artificial intelligence, Hartman said Cyber Command moved staff into operational units to run 90‑day pilots and has integrated large language models into tools used for both defense and offensive operations. \"We have integrated large language models into our hunt for kits. We have integrated large language models into our offensive capabilities,\" he said. He also said the command is partnering with DARPA and transitioning AI capabilities to the force.

Hartman described workforce constraints as a central hurdle. He said recent authorities such as the Cyber Excepted Service (CES) reduced civilian hiring lag times by about 45% and that new authorizations have allowed the command to recruit high‑end talent, but he added that an active hiring freeze has slowed onboarding. \"We're only a little over 50% man with our civilian force,\" he told senators, and said Cyber Command has sought department exemptions where possible.

On defending U.S. critical infrastructure, Hartman cited work in Guam and a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Coast Guard as tangible examples of interagency cooperation. He said Cyber Command executed six cooperative research and development agreements in Guam over six months and assessed a roughly 25% reduction in threat for participating organizations.

On acquisition and integration, Hartman said Cyber Command has consolidated six JCWA (Joint Cyberwarfighting Architecture) programs under a program executive office and is using its expanded budget and acquisition authorities to field agile capabilities to geographic combatant commanders.

Senators used the hearing to press for specifics on policy obstacles and resourcing needs. Chairman Rounds asked how Cybercom 2.0 will be implemented; Hartman said the command compressed a planned six‑month implementation timeline to 45 days to generate recommendations and is awaiting departmental feedback. Senator Rosen and others questioned the impact of hiring freezes and continuing resolutions on the command\u0000s ability to retain and recruit specialized personnel.

The command requested continued congressional support for authorities and appropriations that enable hiring, training, and rapid fielding of AI and other emerging capabilities. Hartman closed by saying the new authorities are \"allowing us to really increase our ability to get after all the things that we've talked about here,\" and asked the committee for sustained partnership to carry implementation forward.

Ending: The subcommittee asked for additional briefings and said members may seek more detailed or classified follow‑ups; Hartman offered to provide more information in closed sessions where appropriate.","Lieutenant General Hartman told the Senate Armed Services subcommittee that Cyber Command is pushing Cybercom 2.0, accelerating AI pilots and seeking hiring relief as it integrates new authorities and works with partners to defend critical infrastructure.","actionData","errors"]

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Senators press for answers after sudden firing of General Hawk; warn of risks to cyber mission

Cyber Command details Cybercom 2.0, AI pilots and workforce shortfalls to Senate panel