The United States’ cyber and special operations forces are now crucial in modern warfare, with lawmakers and military officials highlighting the immediate and escalating cyber threats. Senator Roger Wicker described recent missions as a significant moment for American military power, emphasizing the integration of cyber capabilities into military planning. Senator Jack Reed noted the deep involvement of special operations and cyber forces in the ongoing conflict with Iran, highlighting their roles in combat operations, information warfare, and intelligence support.
Defence officials emphasized the fusion of cyber and physical operations in the evolving nature of warfare. Katherine Sutton, Assistant Secretary of Defense for cyber policy, warned about adversaries pre-positioning disruptive capabilities within the US critical infrastructure. She highlighted the shift towards disrupting military deployments and creating chaos during crises. Artificial intelligence was identified as a key factor accelerating this shift, enhancing the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber attacks.
General Joshua Rudd, head of Cyber Command, reported a significant increase in cyber missions, with over 8,000 missions conducted in 2025. He stressed the integration of cyber operations into joint military actions, citing examples like Absolute Resolve and Epic Fury as successful instances of combined cyber and kinetic operations. Special operations leaders acknowledged the heavy deployment of forces across multiple theatres, emphasizing the need to manage threats from various sources simultaneously.
Admiral Frank Bradley highlighted the challenge of managing threats from China, Russia, Iran, terrorism, and criminal networks concurrently. He noted the high demand for special operations forces and the necessity to address strain on personnel and resources. Lawmakers raised concerns about the sustainability of high operational tempo and the need for recruitment and retention improvements in cyber forces. The Pentagon’s “Cybercom 2.0” initiative aims to enhance cyber personnel recruitment, training, and retention to address existing gaps.
US lawmakers stressed the importance of maintaining technological superiority, particularly in artificial intelligence and advanced cyber capabilities, to avoid losing the competitive edge. The hearing also addressed concerns regarding election security, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and the role of allies in countering global threats.
