Key Takeaways
- •Thomas DiNanno (Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, U.S. Department of State) announced the administration is seeking modernized, verifiable arms control agreements following the expiration of New START.
- •DiNanno testified that the State Department's reorganized "T family" bureaus now prioritize dismantling criminal cartels and countering emerging threats like lethal autonomous weapons and hybrid warfare.
- •Rep. Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5) moved to subpoena Secretary Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner, sparking a heated debate with Rep. Brian Mast (R, FL-21) regarding war transparency.
- •Republicans focused on countering Chinese nuclear expansion and streamlining departmental efficiency, while Democrats criticized the administration for abandoning international security frameworks and fueling a new arms race.
- •The committee will vote on the subpoena motion as the State Department continues negotiating civil nuclear agreements and reviewing the antiquated Missile Technology Control Regime.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Hearing Analysis
Key Testimony & Policy
The Honorable Thomas DiNanno, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, testified on the functional benefits of the department’s recent reorganization. He highlighted the creation of the Bureau of Arms Control and Non-proliferation (ACN), which merged the negotiation and verification teams previously housed in separate bureaus. DiNanno emphasized that the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026 marked the end of an "ineffective" bilateral framework that failed to constrain China’s nuclear expansion or Russia’s development of novel systems like the Poseidon nuclear torpedo and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. He stated the administration is pursuing a "modernized" multilateral approach to arms control that is verifiable and enforceable.
A significant portion of the testimony focused on the AUKUS partnership (Australia, United Kingdom, United States). DiNanno discussed the implementation of ITAR exemptions for AUKUS partners and the ongoing review of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). He argued that the MTCR, established in 1987, is antiquated and often hinders the transfer of essential technologies like heavy drones to allies. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R, MI-4) discussed his legislation, the Missile Technology Control Review Act (HR 3068), which seeks to create an AUKUS-specific exemption to the regime to accelerate Pillar One and Pillar Two activities.
The hearing also addressed "energy dominance" as a tool of statecraft. DiNanno reported progress on "123 Agreements" for civil nuclear cooperation, noting a goal to finalize 20 such agreements by 2028. Specific mention was made of an initialed agreement with Saudi Arabia and ongoing cooperation with Romania on small modular reactors. Rep. George Latimer (D, NY-16) introduced the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, which aims to diversify U.S. energy exports and encourage civil nuclear cooperation with Taiwan to bolster its resilience against potential blockades by the People's Republic of China.
Regarding international narcotics, DiNanno defended the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) refocusing its mission toward dismantling criminal and terrorist cartels. He noted that the administration has designated 15 organizations as foreign terrorist organizations to enable more aggressive interdiction. This shift includes the use of "Midnight Hammer" and "Epic Fury" operations to target Iranian-linked threats and narcotics networks.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
The hearing was marked by intense partisan friction regarding the lack of public testimony on the 26-day-old war with Iran. Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5) moved to subpoena Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, arguing that the committee has failed its oversight responsibility by not holding a dedicated public hearing on the conflict's goals and costs. Rep. Brian Mast (R, FL-21) countered by criticizing Democratic members for failing to attend classified briefings where such details are shared, leading to a sharp exchange over transparency and the "Gang of 16" notifications.
Rep. William Keating (D, MA-9) confronted DiNanno over alleged cuts to programs supporting Ukraine’s Prosecutor General in investigating Russian war crimes. Keating pressed DiNanno on whether Vladimir Putin is a war criminal; DiNanno declined to provide a "yes or no" answer, stating the matter was outside his immediate purview. Similarly, Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) challenged the evidence used to justify strikes on "drug boats," questioning whether fentanyl was actually present on the vessels targeted by the military.
Rep. Ami Bera (D, CA-6) sought assurances regarding the Washington Declaration and the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence for South Korea. DiNanno reaffirmed that the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains "ironclad" to discourage regional partners from seeking their own nuclear deterrents.
Organizations Mentioned
* **United States Department of State:** Underwent a major reorganization in July 2025, expanding the "T family" to five bureaus to streamline international security and arms control efforts. * **AUKUS:** A trilateral security partnership discussed regarding ITAR exemptions, nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, and the need for regulatory reform to accelerate technology sharing. * **International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):** Mentioned as a critical partner for monitoring nuclear sites; the U.S. continues to fund the agency through the ACN bureau despite ongoing military operations in Iran. * **Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):** Described by both witnesses and members as an antiquated 1987 framework that currently restricts the transfer of advanced UAVs and missile technology to allies. * **Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL):** Criticized by some for a "chaotic" reorganization but defended by DiNanno for its renewed focus on dismantling cartels. * **P5 (Permanent Five of the UN Security Council):** Identified as the primary multilateral forum where the U.S. continues to engage Russia and China on strategic stability and arms control. * **Bureau of Emerging Threats (ET):** A newly created bureau tasked with managing the diplomatic implications of AI, lethal autonomous weapons, and security in the undersea and space domains.
What's Next
The committee is scheduled to mark up several key pieces of legislation following the hearing, including the SHADOW Act (establishing a coordinator for hybrid warfare) and the Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act. Under Secretary DiNanno is expected to lead the U.S. delegation to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference next month, where he will engage with P5 partners. Additionally, the State Department is under pressure to provide a briefing on narcotics trafficking in Asia by the end of the month and to deliver overdue reports on security cooperation from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
Transcript
Committee on Foreign Affairs will come to order. I'd ask that everybody rise, join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The purpose of today's hearing is to engage with Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security to examine current U.S. policies and strategies on arms control, non-proliferation, and international security, and to provide oversight of all bureaus under the Under Secretary's authority, including Bureaus of Arms Control and Non-proliferation, Political and Military Affairs, Emerging Threats, Counterterrorism, and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. I now recognize the chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Representative Self, for any opening statement he may have.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Not ready to subscribe?
Get a free daily digest with hearing summaries ranked by relevance.
Already have an account? Log in
