Senior U.S. senators sounded the alarm Thursday: America is entrenched in a persistent cyber war with enemies launching undetectable attacks on vital national systems. The revelations came during confirmation hearings for the next head of U.S. Cyber Command.
Sen. Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, painted a stark picture. ‘We’re not talking theory here—this is a live fight,’ he said. Cyber Command operates as the nation’s unseen shield, battling advanced adversaries who pour resources into stealth technologies that bypass defenses.
Domestic infrastructure remains alarmingly exposed, Wicker noted, with parallels worldwide. This comes as the U.S. ramps up cyber preparedness for potential Indo-Pacific clashes. Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudder, President’s nominee for Cyber Command chief and NSA director, told the panel cyber warfare defines contemporary conflict.
Rudder, with deep NSA and Cyber Command tenure, stressed integration across intelligence and operations. ‘Speed, adaptability, and seamless capability fusion are non-negotiable in our current landscape,’ he asserted. Cyber impacts now permeate all military actions.
Sen. Jack Reed highlighted emerging perils from China and Russia, who blend cyber tools with AI and disinformation. He pressed Rudder on Cyber Command’s state amid absent confirmed leadership and major reforms. Rudder prioritized safeguarding U.S. democracy against foreign meddling.
Tensions rose over offensive strategies. ‘Defense alone won’t cut it—the best defense is offense,’ Sen. Dan Sullivan contended, criticizing light consequences for enemy hackers. Rudder endorsed balanced capabilities but deferred attack authorizations to civilians.
Senators grilled Rudder on protections preventing NSA tools from targeting Americans without foreign links. He committed to halting any domestic overreach. The hearing underscored the urgent need for robust cyber deterrence to protect infrastructure, elections, and security in an era of unrelenting digital assaults.