Who makes the policy decisions in this case? Is it the Department's policy shop, or someplace else?

Do our forces and geographic combatant commanders have the authorities they need to mitigate current and future transnational terrorist threats?

Thornberry, Hon. Mac, a Representative from Texas, Chairman, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

The subcommittee meets today to examine issues related to information technology [IT] and cyber operations, both from a policy and budget perspective.

Today's hearing is a reminder that the national security threats to our Nation do not go away or wait patiently while we try to straighten out our budget woes.

Federal contracting is one of our biggest problems.

This has been very enlightening and disturbing all at the same time, but it is good that we are starting--not starting the discussion, but bringing it up today.

The subcommittee will come to order. We are going to be interrupted by votes here shortly, so we are trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

A congressional hearing actually started one minute early. That doesn't happen very often, but I appreciate our witnesses being here.

My opinion is that the more the administration consults with Congress, the more we can make these decisions out in the open, the better result we will have.

under the best case scenario we are going to have tight defense budgets as far as the eye can see.