FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing: The Role of the Department of Defense in Foreign Assistance

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 115-115] Department of Defense's Role in Foreign Assistance

January 1, 2019

Department of Defense Foreign Assistance National Security Counterterrorism USAID State Department International Relations

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

This hearing informs the oversight and legislative development of the National Defense Authorization Act () for fiscal year 2019, which dictates how the U.S. military allocates resources for international security and stabilization programs.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Defense

The agency's role and strategy in foreign assistance are subject to congressional oversight and potential legislative changes in the NDAA.

USAID

The agency's coordination protocols with the military are being reviewed to improve interagency effectiveness.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

The committee identified these groups as necessary partners for a whole-of-society approach to regional stability.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on July 11, 2018, to examine how the Department of Defense coordinates with the State Department and USAID on foreign aid. The discussion focused on how military efforts can better support long-term stability and counterterrorism goals in conflict-affected regions.

Why It Matters

Key Facts

The hearing took place on July 11, 2018, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The subcommittee is currently negotiating the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the Senate.
The hearing examined the interagency coordination between the Department of Defense, the State Department, and USAID.
The committee identified Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya as primary regions of focus for current counterterrorism and security operations.
The subcommittee is seeking to measure the effectiveness of non-kinetic (non-combat) foreign assistance in achieving long-term regional stability.
The hearing included testimony from two panels of witnesses representing government agencies, NGOs, and research institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Department of Defense involved in foreign assistance?

The hearing explored how military operations and foreign aid can work together to increase stability and reduce violence in conflict-affected regions, supporting broader national security objectives.

What is the goal of this hearing?

The goal is to conduct oversight on how the military coordinates with civilian agencies like USAID and the State Department to ensure that security successes are sustainable.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Non-Kinetic Success

The committee is explicitly shifting focus toward measuring the success of non-combat foreign assistance in achieving long-term stability after 18 years of conflict.

Department of Defense USAID

Connected Entities

personJason Ladnier“Director of the Office of Partnerships, Strategy, and Communications, Department”Map →

organizationDepartment of Defense“Subject of the oversight hearing regarding foreign assistance roles”Map →

personElise M. Stefanik“Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities”Map →

organizationDepartment of State“Participated in the interagency panel regarding foreign assistance”Map →

organizationUSAID“United States Agency for International Development, discussed as a partner in fo”Map →

personMark E. Mitchell“Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Inten”Map →

personRobert Jenkins“Deputy Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistan”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools