I thought perhaps we ought to at least have a discussion about what do you do in a situation when you have the necessary intelligence to know that something terrible is going to happen to the American people in a very short amount of time.

I absolutely support that. That is the law.

I have found that statutory requirements, Executive Orders, directives, have added functions to the DNI...

In the end, we follow the law, whatever it is, regardless of our personal opinions.

We cannot afford to be behind the curve in terms of development of both the offensive and defensive capacities that we put up into space.

I think that conversation has been going on, needs to continue going on.

So encryption has a very positive effect and is needed.

Agility is critical in this time of rapid technological change.

I absolutely believe that is my responsibility and the responsibility of the IC, to provide what this committee needs to do its oversight properly.

Yes, I do, and I think it's important, obviously, for the government, all government entities.

I think that it needs to be under my authority. And I've made that very, very clear.