Senators warn U.S. information operations capacity weakened as China expands messaging
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Summary
Members of the Senate subcommittee raised alarms that cuts to special‑operations enablers and lower U.S. investment have reduced U.S. capacity to compete with Chinese information operations; witnesses said SOLIC coordinates DOD information operations but resources are limited.
Senators pressed witnesses about the United States’ ability to compete in information operations and strategic messaging as they contrasted U.S. resources with what they described as China’s large spending on influence efforts.
"The coordination for information operations actually resides within SOLIC," Assistant Secretary of Defense for SOLIC Mr. Jenkins told the subcommittee, describing SOLIC’s role in coordinating messages across combatant commands and with other agencies. Senator Jeanne Shaheen raised alarm that recent personnel reductions in SOF included many enablers for military information support operations (MISO), and she cited outside testimony that China spends roughly $1,100,000,000 a year on information operations.
Gen. Bryan Fenton agreed that U.S. messaging suffers a gap. "There's a void out there that's not being filled by our message," he said, adding that SOCOM pursues information operations in concert with embassy country teams and partners. When asked whether DOD spends a comparable amount, Jenkins said he would need to provide a specific figure but confirmed it is "significantly less."
Why it matters: Committee members argued that diminished MISO capacity and reductions in overseas engagement platforms hamper the coordinated whole‑of‑government response needed to compete with state actors' sustained influence campaigns.
Senators asked witnesses to outline where additional authorities or funding could strengthen DOD’s messaging, with an emphasis on coordination across State, DoD and other agencies. Witnesses said they are coordinating existing capabilities but that manpower and funding constraints limit scale.