Committee presses nominee on domestic terrorism, foreign extremist threats and counter-UAS authorities

Committee members pressed Kristi Noem on how DHS would address both foreign and domestic terrorist threats and on authorities to counter weaponized drones.

Several senators emphasized that recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas illustrated the continuing threat from homegrown and foreign-inspired actors; they urged continued focus on domestic violent extremism. “This is a grave concern for our country,” Noem said, and she told the committee she would use DHS resources to identify and prevent threats while protecting civil liberties.

Senator Debbie Stabenow and others urged Noem to work closely with governors and law enforcement to secure the northern border and to ensure intelligence and federal agencies coordinate. Noem said DHS elements had been “incredibly siloed” and must “communicate with other intelligence agencies like they should.”

On unmanned aircraft systems, Senator Gary Peters described repeated short-term renewals of counter-UAS authority and urged passage of durable, long-term authorities before the next expiration on March 14. Noem said she would “work with you and this committee to address the threats we may face and the usage of drones in this country” and supported legislative engagement to create long-term counter-UAS tools while taking care to respect civil-liberties and evidentiary issues.

The committee asked for fact-based, nonpartisan briefings on threat assessments. Noem replied: “I will be as transparent and factual every day, with you and the American people as possible based on the information that I have.” Senators said they would press for follow-up briefings and data-driven threat reporting.