Haines and Burns Testify Before Senate and House Intelligence Committees: China and Russia Pose Growing Threats to U.S. National Security

Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, and William Burns, CIA Director, testified before the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Haines told the Senate that China is the biggest threat to U.S. national security and the “most serious and consequential intelligence rival.” Burns told the House that Russian President Vladimir Putin is betting that Russian forces can prevail in Ukraine through a grinding war of attrition and believes “Ukraine matters more to him than us.”

Haines said that China’s increasing challenges to the U.S. make it “our unparalleled priority” as the leaders of U.S. spy agencies presented their annual threat assessment. She added that China’s intelligence-specific ambitions and capabilities make it the most serious and consequential intelligence rival.

Burns told the House that Putin is taking a longer-term view and is convinced that Ukraine matters more to him than to the U.S. He added that Putin believes that Russian forces can prevail in Ukraine through a grinding war of attrition.

The testimony of Haines and Burns before the Senate and House Intelligence Committees highlights the importance of the U.S. recognizing the threats posed by China and Russia. President Joe Biden’s top intelligence adviser has identified China as the biggest threat to U.S. national security, while Burns has warned of Russia’s increasing aggression in Ukraine. The U.S. must remain vigilant in order to protect its national security.