Preserve FMIC Functions to Safeguard U.S. Elections from Foreign Interference

I am deeply concerned about the recent decision to dismantle the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC) and absorb its functions into other parts of the U.S. intelligence community. This move, announced by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, effectively eliminates our last dedicated federal entity for tracking and analyzing state-sponsored efforts to interfere in our institutions, elections, and society. The FMIC has played a crucial role in documenting threats from China, Iran, and Russia targeting our upcoming 2024 presidential election and overall electoral process. It provided invaluable public notifications about tactics used by state-sponsored actors to influence the American public, including highlighting specific instances of deepfake videos. The center also outlined the objectives of these nations in conducting interference operations against the United States. While Director Gabbard claims the office had politicized intelligence, critics argue that the FMIC avoided putting its thumb on the scales of election results or censoring free speech. The dismantling of this center effectively ends any meaningful government role in addressing foreign interference threats at a time when adversarial nations continue to use information operations, cyber operations, and other hybrid threat vectors to destabilize our government and subvert our society. I urge you to exercise your congressional oversight authority to ensure that FMIC's critical functions endure in other capacities. We need clarity on which U.S. agencies will monitor and coordinate analysis of state-sponsored threats. The integrity of our democratic processes and the security of our nation depend on our ability to detect, analyze, and counter foreign malign influence. Please take immediate action to preserve these essential capabilities and maintain a robust defense against foreign interference in our elections and institutions. Our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process are at stake.