DHS Intelligence Nominee Says INA Should Not Collect on Americans Without Foreign Nexus

Matthew Cosma, President Trump's nominee for undersecretary for intelligence and analysis at the Department of Homeland Security, told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should not collect intelligence on Americans who lack a connection to foreign terrorism or foreign intelligence.

Chairman Tom Cotton asked Cosma whether INA "should collect information or intelligence on Americans who lack a connection to foreign terrorism or foreign intelligence?" Cosma replied, "I do not, senator." He repeated in later exchanges that INA's mission is to focus on threats with a foreign nexus and to refer domestic matters to law enforcement, saying activities with a foreign nexus "would be referred over to the FBI."

Cosma described INA's statutory role to share intelligence with state, local, tribal and territorial partners and said the office serves as a conduit between federal intelligence and local authorities. He emphasized four priorities he would bring to the job if confirmed: technology, technique, team and trust, and stressed the need for analysts to have up-to-date tradecraft and tools.

Senators pressed Cosma on specific practices that had drawn controversy in prior years, including the compilation of reports related to American journalists and the use of intelligence interviews with incarcerated people. In response to a yes-or-no question about whether INA should collect intelligence targeting journalists performing journalistic functions, Cosma answered "No, sir." When asked whether INA should conduct intelligence interviews with incarcerated people who had not consented or consulted counsel, Cosma answered "No, sir."

Cosma committed to fully respecting privacy and constitutional rights in coordination with DHS components and local partners. He said INA is not a law-enforcement agency but an "enabler" that works with law enforcement when foreign ties are present and that, if confirmed, he would assess INA's posture and share findings with the committee.

Senators said they will submit follow-up questions for the record; Cosma agreed to respond promptly. The hearing record contains commitments from the nominee to prioritize civil liberties while carrying out INA's congressionally defined role.