President's nominee for CIA director urges focus on China, emerging technology and talent at confirmation hearing

The president's nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency told Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner and committee members that, if confirmed, he will prioritize talent, technology and an intensified focus on China.

The nominee said those priorities are necessary because "today, we face what may be the most challenging national security environment in our nation's history," citing threats from the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, Iran, North Korea and transnational criminal organizations.

He told the committee he has spent roughly "a quarter of a century" in national security roles, including work as a U.S. attorney, as a member of congressional intelligence and homeland security committees, and as director of national intelligence. He said those roles prepared him to lead the CIA and pledged a commitment to "a strict adherence to the CIA's mission" if confirmed.

The nominee outlined three organizational priorities. First, on personnel, he said the agency must reward high performance and hold low performers accountable, while creating "pathways for mid career professionals with highly sought after skills" and allowing rotations between the CIA and the private sector. He added the agency would investigate workforce health and wellness issues, including "anomalous health incidents."

Second, on technology, the nominee said the CIA must accelerate efforts to keep pace with private-sector innovation and defend against foreign advances in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics and counterintelligence. He said technology is both "a tool and a target," and cited the agency's recently created transnational and technology mission center as "an acknowledgment of that fact."

Third, he said the CIA must intensify focus on challenges posed by China and the Chinese Communist Party, repeating his prior assessment that he had viewed China as a top national security threat while serving as director of national intelligence. "President Trump has been an incredible leader on this issue," the nominee said, and he described bipartisan momentum on China policy.

The nominee also promised to protect civil liberties and produce "insightful, objective, all source analysis, never allowing political or personal biases to cloud our judgment or infect our products." He said covert action would be conducted "at the direction of the president." Addressing CIA personnel, he said: "If all of this sounds like what you signed up for, then buckle up and get ready to make a difference. If it doesn't, then it's time to find a new line of work."

He began his remarks by thanking "Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner, and distinguished members of the committee" and acknowledged former Attorney General John Ashcroft and "Director Burns" for their presence and support. He also recognized family members by name and number, thanking his wife Michelle, his two daughters Riley and Darby, and his five brothers and sisters.

The nominee closed by saying the intelligence provided to policymakers must aim to "preserving peace and spreading prosperity," and he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to appear before the committee and to answer questions.

The transcript provided an unclassified opening statement only; the nominee said he would discuss intelligence collection priorities in a classified session that followed.