Created by americas Cable Television company as a Public Service and brought to you by your cable provider. Secretary of state mike pompeo was on capitol hill to test of by on the state departments 2021 budget request. Asked about china, u. S. Troop withdrawal from germany, the firing of the state departments Inspector General, and is it an trumps recent tweet on possibly delaying the 2020 election. This Foreign Relations hearing is almost three hours. The efforts of china and russia to so discard and read have a can undo the reand open International Order have reached new heights. They have stepped up this and manipulated international institutions, suppress the voices of freedom, propped up dictators, and invaded their neighbors. They deny millions of people access to humanitarian systems. We have a long road ahead of us in this era of competition. We need sustained political will read these challenges require nothing less. On top of all of this, we are confronted by a new challenge, a biological enemy that we still do not fully understand. It has inflicted levels of fiscal and economic harm on the world that we have not seen in more than 100 years. China and russia have played a in providingole Global Health data and spreading misinformation and stealing vaccine research. China and russia have chosen to be and proven themselves adversaries. Sanctioning bad actors will never be enough. To confront these and other challenges, the department will have to rely on a vast array of tools and resources. Our diplomats must be backed by efficient and successful assistance. Contribute to the growth of a more healthy society. We are eager to support a budget that will advance these critical interest. And support the state departments most critical resources. As the coronavirus emerged from to pullou were forced back thousands of our diplomats and families. You did not just pack up and go without a thought for your fellow americans. The department launched an Unprecedented Mission to help return more than 100,000 americans safely home. All of us who participated in that are greatly appreciative of the departments work in that regard. This involves countries to reopen their airspace flights. Other places you chartered planes to get American People home. There are folks who may never come in contact with the department, but more than 100,000 americans can personally attest to the depression this work the department does for our people every day. We want to support a state department that is up to the staffed, andded, equipped with our national interests. We have threats that impede this. All politics are local. Our adversaries understand this all too well. We need our diplomats to be local as well. You foro publicly thank your accessibility that you have had as secretary. Essential that i have instant access to facts and information. Always make yourself acceptable. I sincerely appreciate that. It is imperative that i have this information. You have always provided it. I never know where you are around the globe but you have always made it happen. I remain very grateful. Sen. Menendez it has been a while since you have joined us. Forpreciate your enthusiasm fulfilling this part of your constitutional responsibilities. I dont imagine we will see you anytime soon. This is your opportunity to defend your stunningly illconceived request to slash the budget of our Foreign Policy instruments. I would like to take a wholesale look at how your department has represented the American People and american interests on the world stage for the past year. That view is not good, to say the least. Under your watch, the u. S. Has seen setback after setback on the world stage. Today, around is much closer to is mucha bomb iran closer to a nuclear bomb. The president and your administration has not addressed this threat. You have abetted putins efforts. Withdrawing forces from germany, ailing to take action when evidence emerged that russia was paying bounties to kill u. S. Troops in afghanistan, and twice redirecting funds to pay for border walls. Meanwhile, the confrontational bluster has not stopped china and the South China Sea, in hong kong, in suppressing its own people. You assured this committee you would have that diplomacy wrapped up a couple of years ago. Flatlined,to have leaving north korea with a more capable nuclear program. The state department has been woefully absent. Engagemently in its with the nile waters. The entirety of our approach seems to be antiimmigrant hysteria and bullying. There is bipartisan support for your venezuela policy. But your approach has met with suffering. The administration will not support those who are already exiled. You propose cutting our International Narcotics and law enforcement. On climate change, your department has not just failed to be part of the solution, but is becoming part of the problem. Actively undermining International Efforts to safeguard our planets future. Our allies across the world routinely wonder out loud whether we can really be counted on. Our values have been denigrated. President trump screen lighting of concentration camps in china and revisionist and sometimes repulsive views expels by espoused by your unalienable rights commission. In the face of a Global Pandemic , we have not just taken a backseat. We are seeing a collapse of leadership at home and abroad. Rather than putting force of real strategy, our leaders are pointing fingers at the World Health Organization and china. They refused to be straight with congress and the American People on the blick health threat. All the while, infections and deaths surge across the country. Of our diplomacy starts and ends with the strength of our diplomatic auris. Arlier this week i released report, diplomacy and crisis. Have a copy here in case you have not seen it. I asked consent to enter into the record. We found a state department at risk of catastrophic value. Career diplomats have a complete and utter disdain. There is a contempt for career employees. Many are asking of their Service Still valued. Even as President Trump refers to our diplomats is the state, state, you have stood by his side and said nothing. There has been an exodus of expertise. I realize that you were not at the department at that time, the artman has continued to suffer persistent vacancies without confirmed nominees. The administration has repeatedly put forth candidates who do not process the qualifications, demeanor, nor temperament to serve in leadership positions and represent the American People. When you send us qualified nominees, we act. We have confirmed more than 190 nominees rate thousands have advanced quickly. This inuously send send us nominees who have Sexual Harassment lawsuits and allegations against them. Who have supported torture and whose conduct disqualifies them from service in any administration. The best people dont seem to want to work for you. Let me touch on a couple of oversight issues that i know you are passionate about as a former member of congress. At your direction, the president recently removed the state department back to general who was investigating last years emergent declaration of arms sales to saudi arabia. We raised serious concerns. We have learned of allegations of you using your office to promote your own personal the mastic lyrical agenda, hosting lavish dinners and using taxpayer resources to impress donors. While this hearing assistance oblique convened for the budget request, you and i and Everybody Knows that the president s wish to completely get our International Affairs budget by a shocking 34 is dead on arrival. Tempted toay, i am provide you with a budget request and see how you would actually operate under it. Hearing werebudget not months after the fact and are too late, it is fundamentally misguided and unsuited for our nations security. I recognize you will take issue with much of what i have said. But facts are a stubborn thing. I offered a hand to work with you in areas where we could fill bipartisan support. Russia, china. , i am disappointed. As i look at the track record of this administration, instead of making America First among the nations of the world you have really Star Leadership relinquished our leadership. Thank you. As we proceed, let me say, those views are at the views of senator menendez, not the views of the chair or the majority of this committee. 11 30 heart stop that will give us time for a round of russians. He will take a short break about halfway through. We would stick with what has been longstanding commitment of this committee for civility. When the witnesses asked a question, we are going to give the witness the opportunity to answer that question and not interrupt his answer simply be as he is doing so well at answering the question. I will enforce that strictly. May have a parliamentary inquiry . If we are going to have answers that are filibusters, i do not expect that we are going to allow that either. I will run the committee. And i will do it as indicated. We will not interrupt the witness. You. Pompeo thank that in full statement the interest of time i will just read the first third. Today i am here to present and testify about the 2021 budget. It request nearly 41 billion for the state department and usaid. To increase the development of democratic societies. It critically reflects a commitment to the strategic use of resources to provide better results for the American People. That is the top line analysis. Expendituresc reflect American Values. My message that they were simple. Lacesump administration are founding principles at the core of american diplomacy. I want to talk about how we have done that. Securing the American Peoples freedoms against authoritarian threats, securing lives during the pandemic, and helping friends secure unalienable rights. Withve evaluated the world the same realism that the american founders did. We see the Islamic Republic of iran for what it is, an aggressor, not a problem victim. We have gone full bore on our maximum pressure campaign. We rallied nations to our side for diplomacy. We have bolstered our military readiness visavis iran. The Security Council must renew the u. N. Arms embargo it expires on october 18. Iran launches missiles at saudi oil facilities. Should the Security Council fail to act, iran will have a freer hand to so destruction around the world. Destabilizings a force. This administration has acted to protect their interests and our friends. We have issued the crimea declaration, which supplied ukraine with military hardware. We sanctioned more than 360 russian targets for everything from human rights abuses to operating mercenaries around the world. Request forpartment the Global Engagement center is 130 billion dollars, more than current estoppel level. Tolerateot misinformation from the kremlin nor any of our adversaries. Two weeks ago, the state department removed nor extreme reamsnordst restriction. This halted construction of the pipeline. We are the toughest administration ever on russia. We see the Chinese Communist party for what it is. The central threat of our times. Our vigorous diplomacy has led to an international awakening. That tide is turning. Have banned ones trusted vendors from their networks. Canada has spoken out against chinese hostagetaking. Denmark has rejected their attempted censorship of danish newspapers. Sweden has closed its confucius institutes. They identify china as a threat. Declared chinas South China Sea claims unlawful and illegitimate. Step up maritime maneuvers and that part of the world. India has banned 106 chinese applications that threaten privacy and security. Our diplomatic effort is working. 10 nations have said the South China Sea must be settled on international norms. Japan has condemned chinas National Security law targeting hong kong. The eu condemned the law as well and declare china a systemic rival. We have agreed to start a dialogue focused totally on china. Nato, they have called to make china a bigger focus. Tolet a multilateral effort make sure intellectual property rights. These nations have been reinvigorated. We have worked hard at this. Our diplomats have done wonderful work. I am very proud of the progress we are making raid in addition ,o these multilateral efforts we sanctioned chinese leaders and exposedutality export controls and exposed export controls on companies that supported it. We warned u. S. Businesses against using slave labor in their supply chain. We terminated special agreements with hong kong. We closed our consulate in houston because it was a den of spies. Our budget reflects this effort and the reality on the ground. We want that part of the world to be free and phosphorus. Happy toose and im take questions. Thank, mr. Secretary. I appreciate that. We will do questioning on a seniority basis. As opposed to the usual firstcome rule. I would ask each member to be respectful of other members and take to the five minutes you are allotted. Once we have gone around, we will make a determination of where we will go from there. Menendez ic seven minutes on the clock. Is that what it will be . Lets do seven. That will just about take up the time. We will have to stick to that. Menendez Vladimir Putins investment in donald trump prior to the 2016 election continues to pay off handsomely. Withdrawing troops from germany is not about germany. It is about our own National Security interest. From theng funds European Deterrence Initiative to pay for the president s ineffective border wall. Refusing to impose meaningful sanctions. Perhaps most shocking, while we have all known for some time that russia has abided support to the alabama, both arms and resources, imposing bounties on the heads of u. S. Service members is an outrageous escalation. Astonishinglyp admitted in an interview on tuesday that he has never raised putin, eventh mr. Though he has spoken to him about seven times this year alone. Do you consider how you would from ao such behavior democratic president if you were sitting in your old house seat . Would you be ok with a president who abandoned our troops without even raising this with the kremlin . You have identified four items you are concerned about. I would like to address each of them. Sen. Menendez i only asked one question. Sec. Pompeo i dont spend much time thinking about what i would have done. I am focused on my job. Sen. Menendez let me ask you this. Had you raised concerns with russia and its foreign minister with respect to russia reportedly placing bounties on the heads of Service Members in afghanistan . Sec. Pompeo i want to be very careful about what is public record. I can assure you and the American People, each time i have spoken with him my i have raised all of the issues that put any american interests at risk. Whether it is soldiers on the ground in syria, afghanistan, the activities taking place in libya, the actions in ukraine. Each and every one of these can threaten american interests. I speak with him with some frequency. Sen. Menendez i appreciate that answer. This is in the public sphere. You raised, there are public reports, very well documented, that the russians were so was late paying bounties to kill our Service Members. Have you raised that issue with him . Sec. Pompeo i will be more careful about the intelligence. I will tell you, make no mistake the proper people have been aware to every threat to our soldiers and at anniston. Whether that was general miller or my team at the embassy in kabul. Any time there was a threat to our assets. We have raised these two are russian counterparts. Every one of our team who interacts with the russians. Me turn to athe few other questions. Maybe you can answer these simply yes or no. Ds 400key purchase system from the Russian Federation . Sec. Pompeo yes. Sen. Menendez did they pay 2. 5 billion for that system . Sec. Pompeo i am not aware of the amount of the transaction. Sen. Menendez but they did pay them whatever the amount was . Sec. Pompeo i believe that is correct. That the cashin has been exchanged. Sen. Menendez does the turkish government currently have it in its possession . Sec. Pompeo it does. Sen. Menendez did turkey tested test it . Sec. Pompeo i will not answer that question. I will not discuss classified information. Sen. Menendez has the president raised this with president erdogan . Sec. Pompeo i do not talk about things that the president speaks about with foreign counterparts. The white house is free to do that if they choose. Sen. Menendez let me ask you a simple question. On said in your responses monday saying you take your responsibilities seriously. All of these elements clearly are in violation. So over a year since all of these facts have attached, when will the Administration Fall low follow the law and impose sanctions on turkey . Sec. Pompeo in response to turkeys acquisition of the s400, we have taken significant actions that have had a real impact in turkey. We have pulled out of a significant weapons program, the f35 program, and we continue to evaluate how to apply sanctions to achieve our end objective. Our end objective is not to punish, it is to ensure our nato partner acts in a way that is consistent with american National Security and the security of our nato partners as well. We are working diligently. Sen. Menendez i had a very pointed question. I know that youre a harvard graduate, a west point graduate. You know what my question was. Its not about everything else. You have decided not to answer that. Let me go to the final question. You had the Inspector General of the state department ultimately fired, is that correct . Sec. Pompeo i recommended to the president that he be terminated, yes. Sen. Menendez and you recommended it to the president that he be terminated why . Because he was conducting investigations that may affect you . Sec. Pompeo senator, at the time i made the recommendation, i was unaware of the investigations he had ongoing at the time, with one exception. I was aware of an investigation that he had asked me to provide testimony. Was unawarehat, i of any investigation. It is not remotely the region. Sen. Menendez was your undersecretary aware and didnt he speak to you about it . Sec. Pompeo he did not speak to me about that. Sen. Menendez you said the ig was not performing in the way he should have because he wasnt following, in essence, what you wanted to. Inspector generals are not supposed to follow what the Department Head wants to, theyre supposed to be independent in pursuit of their mission. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator johnson . Sen. Johnson mr. Secretary, welcome, thank you for your service. I think we can acknowledge the world is a complex and messy place. As the Ranking Member said, facts are stubborn things and the administrations have track records. Just a quick review, you came into office, President Trump came into office with a big mess, a lot of messes, he had to clean up. Just let me go through. Ofya, a failed state because president obamas actions. Syria went from a few hundred dead to basically a genocide, about half a Million People killed in syria. What i consider one of the historic wonders in Foreign Policy, the removal of troops from iraq allowed isis to rise from the newly defeated ashes of al qaeda in iraq. Crimea had been illegally annexed, Eastern Ukraine invaded, and president obama did not provide the lethal weaponry on a unanimous basis that congress authorized him to do. North korea was rampantly testing missiles and their nuclear weapons. Iran through that agreement changed their behavior for the worst. Illegal immigration, primarily the form of family units, exploiting laws that were not being enforced in this country, was exploding. President trump came into office with a lot of Foreign Policy messes. Last my looks, under this administration, we started no new wars. We destroyed the physical caliphate of isis. General soleimani, albaghdadi are off the field. President trump provided those lethal defensive weaponry, the javelins, which helped stabilize the situation in iran. Quite honestly, they have done a pretty good job of reducing the out of illegal immigration from the southern border by diplomacy with guatemala. It was one of the things that occurred there. I think we have to put those track records and compare them and talk honestly about all these things. The Ranking Member has been pretty brutal regarding the firing of the Inspector General. I was calm. Letter. Copied on a i read it. It is somewhat complex. I just want to give you an opportunity to talk about what happened. By the way, im very sensitive to the Inspector General being pushed to investigate the leaks of these departments. There were 126 leaks having to do with National Security. In the first 125 days of that this administration. That needs to be investigated. If you could describe the leaks you are concerned about and how the Inspector General didnt handle that the way you thought it should be handled. Thank you, senator johnson. I value the Inspector General as well. I had a great relationship with him at the cia. When i was there, he did his job, he took care of the team, he was critical of the agency when we got it wrong. I know what a good ig can do. The Inspector General was not that. The incident you were referring to is we had a very sensitive Inspector General report. When the final draft was prepared, it leaks. The politico reporter said it came from two people close to the administration. Office and as couple others who knew about it in the full report. That had a real impact on senior and state Department Officials lives. When we confronted the Inspector General, he was defensive. The request to have a separate ig come and investigate. Suffice it to say, he did not comply with instructions about how we felt the leak needed to be investigated so we could have an independent investigator do that. And then he wasnt candid about that process either. He did not act with integrity throughout the process in the way that Inspector Generals have to be counted on to behave. Sen. Johnson i have my own issues with the Inspector General. I wont go into those. Right now, im being falsely accused of peddling in russian disinformation. Because of acting director of National Intelligences effort s, we know the russian disinformation that was involved in the 2016 campaign was bought and paid for by the dnc, the Clinton Campaign was contained in the steele dossier. That is the truth. I have heard no outrage on the part of our democratic colleagues about that russian disinformation. But we are still undergoing our investigation. We are trying to seek documents out of the state department involved in the steele dossier. Let me ask you a specific question. October 2016, a former state Department Official arranged for Christopher Steele to provide other state Department Officials the antitrump dossier he compiled the dnc and the Clinton Campaign. That same month, mr. Weiner gave information collected by clinton supporters, which he then passed on to the fbi. This conduct raises serious concerns under the hatch act, federal records act, and department policies. Although then ig linnick has not acknowledged this conduct, he has not published any of his findings and admitted they did not interview any of the key players. Are you aware of these issues and can you commit that the department will be responsive to our requests from senator grassley and myself . We need these documents. Douglas senator, we will do our best to be responsive. We understand the request. We are working through it, and i am familiar with the information you set forth with respect to the behavior that took place in october of 2016 in the state department. Sen. Johnson were there any other specific incidents that asked for you to ask for the removal of the Inspector General. Sec. Pompeo it is about the core function. For thencial Statement State Department is accurate in full. We have an audit team to do it. The Inspector General screwed it up. The report said oversight was demonstrably ineffective, ultimately placing the andrtmentinformation reputation at considerable and unnecessary risk. That is an enormous failure. There is a handful of others. He refused to take care of his team in important ways. There were 10 fewer audits of our posts around the world. One of our most important functions aside from the audit is to make sure they are conducting business properly. We were down about 10 . Morale inside the igs office, we have 38 assistant secretary bureaus. The igs office was the worst survey results. He did not take care of his people, either. Sen. Johnson he also did not investigate the use of personal emails, which was rampant. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here. Americas strength is in our values. We are the Global Leader for democratic values. We have been so recognized, and we have worked with the International Community as the leader of the free world. With other countries that share our values. And we lead in that and one of the best examples was the passage of the mcnitt ski sanctions. It was universal in promoting u. S. Values. The lated to work with senator mccain on the passage of that legislation. And now canada, europe, and australia are following our leadership to enforce universally recognized democratic values. So when the United States isolates itself from our traditional allies, it affects our credibility as a Global Leader in the free world in promoting democratic values. When we pulled out of the climate agreement, when we isolated ourselves on iran, when our trade policies have been more bilateral rather than working with other countries to try to advance our causes against nonmarket economies or government controlled economies, all that effect all that affects americas credibility. When i look at your budget, i see a decline of 35 in democracy funds. To me, i dont understand that cut. 35 . If we are going to be the leader in democratic values. But then, i was pleased to hear you mention, as the first order of your remarks today, human rights and American Values. But i was disappointed that to use the commission of human rights as the example. I say that because in my conversations with human rights advocates, not just here but globally, they look at the United States trying to create politicalto promote agendas rather than democratic pencils of human rights. Democratic principles of human rights. Tell me how this commission has itaged in human rights when is tied towards a political view rather than a universal view of human rights . Sec. Pompeo i appreciate the answer to talk a little bit about the commission and the objective i set out a year ago. I would urge everyone to take a look at it and read it. I think they did phenomenal work. I dont agree with anything that is in there. I dont think any of the 10 men pursue came from broad religious or political background, i dont think any of them agreed with everything in there. But what it set out to do is take on what is an enormous skies this in a norm is crisis in the 20th century human rights process. It was my view as i watched our state department, all the folks who worked on this who are great and amazing people, i watched as they did not have a founding. I wanted to go back and talk about how american Foreign Policy and american human rights policy that is what the commission was asked to do. What i dont understand is what were you trying what was the problem that you were trying to solve . There has been a great deal of debate in establishing universal values of human rights, which has been the core for democratic states and now all of a sudden we are picking winners and losers. But it looks like it is done on a political basis. Let me move to a second subject, if i might, on arms sales. We have a proud tradition of making sure that when we supply arms to other countries that theyre not used against our human rights values. We have seen in recent years that arms provided by the United States has ended up in the hands of actors that we dont want to see get those arms. What oversight are you deploying to make sure that arms that we make available to other countries are used for the intended purpose and dont end up for the wrong use . Sec. Pompeo we have an elaborate process to do our best to verify that doesnt happen. Its not that we dont have escapes, that there are not failures. That has certainly been the case for a long time, but we have an elaborate process to validate and verify. We have big teams in our multiple departments that have responsibility for doing their best to ensure that american Weapons Systems are used for their intended purpose. We provide them to our partners and allies around the world. Let me make this offer. I think this committee can help you in that regard and the jurisdictional battle between defense and state sometimes presents challenges. States have the principal role for a good reason. There is some legislation i have authored that would help in that regard. I hope you would engage us to give you the tools you need to take on, sometimes, the military aspects of the Defense Department that may not be as sensitive to these values. Sec. Pompeo senator, i appreciate that very much. I do think the state department is the proper place to lodge the primary responsibility for that activity. I welcome your efforts there. The gao recently released a report that i requested in regards to diversity. The release is titled, additional steps are needed to additional barriers to adversity. They point out that from 2002, 2018 that we have seen a decline of minorities in positions within the state department, and its particularly pronounced in the higher ranks. What steps are you taking to implement the g. A. O. Concerns . Sec. Pompeo i have even that report and the internal work that we have done. I would characterize it from over the last decade as flat. That is not good enough. That is multiple parties, this is not partisan at all. We want to get this right. We have undertaken a number of things. We have about a third today of our members who are minorities, excuse me, about 44 of them are women. We have developed a program to bring more people. We had doubled the applications this year. We have a team working on diversity and inclusion, and we are almost finished with a major study that was begun 13 months ago run by carol perez to look at the failures. There has been a lot of money and effort on diversity and inclusion over this last decade with, to your point, relatively good outcomes for acquisition of new talented people, and less so at the senior levels. I hope we can Work Together on that. Urge you toi would working with us on the aid to the northern triangle to make sure we have the help from the United States to deal with the pressure and the migration. Senator gardner. Sen. Gardner thank you, secretary for your service, and being here today. In the last several years we have been working together to shape a new policy toward the endopacific. The region obviously is burgeoning in population, promising commercial growth, and is critical for Global Security and economic security. But north korea continues to threaten its neighbors. China is an emerging power that is intimidating its neighbors, and attempting to remake the world order in its own image. In burma, they are committing abuses against a population. It is more important than ever that the United States maintains a presence in the region, encourages economic cooperation. The administration and Congress Must be united on a longterm strategy for american National Security interests, create jobs through trade promotion and opportunities, and project American Values of respect for the human rights and freedom in the endopacific region. That includes countering chinas growing militarization of the South China Seas and increasing the influence of Southeast Asia, that well as ensuring denuclearization is achieved on the Korean Peninsula. The United States has always been and will always remain a power, and legislation ensures the u. S. Government will speak with one voice to reassure our allies and to deter our adversaries in the endopacific region. In 2018 the subcommittee held a threepart series, talking about human rights and the rule of law. We found that mass concentration camps for uighur muslims necessitated a serious response from the u. S. Beijing continues to refuse negotiations with the central tibetan administration. Even rights defenders are routinely jailed and tortured. I was pleased to see some more sanctioned. But what is the administration doing to address more further global sanctions and other remedies for these abuses . Sec. Pompeo senator gardner, thanks. I am familiar with aria. It is great work. And i want to thank this committee and a Broader Group of senators for the legislation that we had with respect to the uighurs and hong kong democracy as well. It is powerful to say i have the support of congress and almost have almostan unanimous support with policies on respect to freedom with the threats that the Chinese Communist party is presented. As for what we will continue to do in western china with respect to the horrific Human Rights Violations that are taking place against ethnic minorities there, i dont want to get in front of the final decisions, but you can rest assured that there are further actions, including for actions with respect to Human Rights Violations that the department of state and department of treasury are working to complete. Sen. Gardner mr. Secretary, yesterday, i dont know if you have the chance to see some of the hearings in the house of representatives regarding some of the Tech Companies. I will review some of the comments they made when asked whether or not china is stealing information from them. Apple ceo tim cook said he had no personal knowledge about Chinese Technology theft. Jeff bezos says no firsthand experience on knockoff products. Google ceo said they didnt have any experience later and clarified that remark. Can you talk about tech in china and what you see happening . Is it true there is no Chinese Technology theft in u. S. Companies . They need to get out more. There is a long history, decades long history. Including against technologies. It is the case you hear it privately because there is continued threats made against their businesses that are operating not only in china, but threats to businesses that are actually working in other parts of asia and Southeast Asia as well. The Chinese Communist party is completely willing to bully and to threaten companies to behave. Sec. Pompeo do you work sen. Gardner do you work with these Tech Companies on Cyber Threats . Sec. Pompeo we work closely with them. On the side of protecting cyber, we have had some good work. We worked alongside each other on important projects where we have reduced risk. Thethe idea that anyone in tech space could not know of what the Chinese Communist party is attempting to steal and the Cyber Attacks they are making seems incredulous. Sen. Gardner in march of this year relating to information and dissemination of misinformation when it came to the covid19 propaganda china was spreading, i suggested the national Security Council set up a task force at the white house to counter that disinformation. Are the Tech Companies doing enough to combat chinese disinformation . Sec. Pompeo no, there is always more they can do. There is more we can do as well. On that particular front, i must say i think the world mounted a very effective Counter Campaign against the chinese different disinformation. I think the world understands this virus emanated from china, from wuhan in particular, and i think the world understands the communist party showed up with ppe that didnt work and covered up what they knew about that when they could have prevented this spread. I think the chinese efforts at disinformation actually failed in this case. Sen. Gardner the taiwan situation, i wanted to ask a question about bilateral trade agreements and opportunities for taiwan. Yesterday, i sent a letter to u. S. Trade representative lighthizer. He asked for the u. S. To engage in a bilateral trade agreement with taiwan. Can you talk a little about the administrations pursuit of such in agreement . Sec. Pompeo i would prefer to leave that to ambassador lighthizer to talk about that. We are aware there is great interest in this. The state department will have its part in that. But our primary work with respect to taiwan is different from the trade piece of this. We have been militant about making sure we honor the commitments we have made to the people of taiwan, including proving arms sales are important so that the taiwanese can engage in the activities they need to do so they can protect their democracy. Sen. Gardner and the administrations goal is denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula . Sec. Pompeo it is. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here today. Were you involved in the decision to withdraw troops from germany . Sec. Pompeo yes. According to secretary esper, 6400 of those troops will be coming back to the United States. They are not going to be going to parts of europe to deter russia, parts of asia to deter china. In fact, the only country that has publicly supported the removal of u. S. Troops from germany to date has been russia. So, can you share with us whether the impact of this decision on our efforts to Counter China and russia was taken into account, and was there any sort of strategic assessment done to support this decision . Sec. Pompeo senator sheehan, thanks for the question. Of course there was, and we were very involved at the strategic level. Obviously, the troop level decisions are primary for department of defense and the president. You characterized the folks who are coming back to the United States as somehow being off of the field. That is not the case. These units will participate in rotational activity. They will be forward deployed. They will not be stationed or garrisoned, but make no mistake about it, they will be fully available to ensure we can properly prosecute the challenges we have from the global powers. I assume all of our troops in the United States are available to be forward deployed. I recognize there is certain training that needs to be part of them before they are deployed, but i guess i dont understand. Diplomaticallyof alienating germany, the largest and wealthiest country in the eu, who has been a historic, strategic ally, was not also taken into consideration . Sec. Pompeo this is personal for me. Ive fought on the border of east germany when i was a young soldier. Yes, i am aware of that. And your unit is coming back to the United States. Sec. Pompeo i know, they had been back once before and they went back. When i was there, there was six figures. Germany is no longer a front line state. As far as strategic efforts, the nato commander was in the process of helping us think this through. I saw comments at a this morning that are different than you described, that viewed the actions we have taken as threatening because we will have soldiers that are deployed closer to the russian border. Yes, this was a thoughtful process. The military piece of this ran out of the pentagon department, the state department was fully involved in the strategic pieces in this. And im very confident that our mission to deter russia is still fully capable. The precise number about 100,000 early. Conditions changed around the world and our forces need to be repositioned to confront todays challenges. From auld just read report in bloomberg that quotes the press secretary for Vladimir Putin that says, and i quote, the fewer american soldiers on the european continent, the calmer it is in europe. He was answering a question on planned u. S. Troop reductions in germany. That doesnt sound to me like they think that this increases the threat from russia. But i would like to go on to another issue, because i want to followup up on the question that secretary menendez senator menendez raised about the reports on bounties that russia has put on our troops in afghanistan by the taliban. There was a report last night that said that state officials have secretly warned russia against bounties on our troops. Against killing our troops. What more do you think we should be doing to address that, to prevent the taliban and russia from trying to murder our troops in afghanistan . Sec. Pompeo there are many things. We have been engaged in them consistently. There is intelligence collection so if it happens we can identify it, stop it, make sure the tactical event doesnt take place. Not only dodask of intelligence services, but our broader intelligence services. Our diplomats make clear our expectations, and we have our larger afghanistan policy. It is not just russia. I know there is an awful focus on that in this town, but at the state department and the department of defense, were worried about iranian support. Were worried about gulf money, we are working diligently against everyone of those threats both diplomatically and from a security perspective to protect our soldiers. And finally to protect our soldiers further, we are working to get peace and reconciliation in afghanistan. We have a cease fire that began at the start, we now have had a significant prisoner exchange. The agreement, we have not had a single attack against an american soldier. This is the finest in american diplomacy and im incredibly proud of what my state Department Team has done to protect american soldiers. Do you think it would be helpful for President Trump to talk to Vladimir Putin and tell in that he needs to back off terms of paying the taliban to kill american troops . Sec. Pompeo i will always leave it to the president what he wants to say to other leaders. I dont think there is any doubt in the mind of every russian leader, including Vladimir Putin, about the expectations of the United States of america not to kill americans. I promise you, the 300 russians who were in syria, and who took action to threaten america and are no longer on this planet, understand that, too. When you were here last time, we talked about the potential for negotiations with the taliban in afghanistan. That was before an agreement was reached. And there was an exchange about the role of afghan women in any talks with the taliban. And you said that afghan women should fend for themselves. We have seen the outcome. Of our reticence to support afghan women. The agreement between the u. S. And the taliban failed to mention the rights of afghan women, and there is no guarantees for their continued protection. It is the policy to have afghan women fend for themselves consistent with the legal mandate for the u. S. To support the meaningful inclusion of women and peace talks as directed by the women, peace, and security act that was signed into law by President Trump . Sec. Pompeo i would have to look and see what i said. We are doing our level best to make sure we protect every afghan male and female. I have seen the tentative composition of the afghan negotiating team. I think you will be pleased with it. I am out of time, but the fend for themselves is an exact quote from your statement when you were before this committee. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, people always say actions speak letter than words. Do you think the specific action that the United States of america took against general soleimani sent a message to every country on this planet for of what would happen to people that targeted United States soldiers on the battlefield . Sec. Pompeo i do. Thank you. Senator romney. Sen. Romney thank you, mr. Secretary. It is a pleasure to see you. Im one of many who applauds your recent addresses with regards to china. You have called out their predatory behavior, economic, geopolitical, and you have noted that we have to confront china with our friends and allies if we are going to be successful in diverting them from their course of predation. It is a very welcome assessment. A very clear eyed evaluation of chinas intent, and a statement of what our mission must be with regards to china. It is also a welcome departure from the president s fawning praise of xi jinping and celebration of agreements that china has not honored. It is also my view, inconsistent with actions, that we have take n that have offended our allies at a time we have to dry them draw them closer to us. One is steel and aluminum tariffs against our friends and allies that i thought were misplaced. I would rather have focused our entire ammunition on china. The other most recently, as senator shaheen indicated, the withdrawal of troops in germany, and doing so while expressing an attempt to punish germany for the fact that they spend their of their gdp on defense as opposed to the 2 nato target, even though they indicated they are on track to get to the 2 number. I have heard from the highest levels of the German Government that this is seen by them as an insult to germany. I cant imagine at a time when we need to be drawing in our friends and allies so we can collectively confront china that we want to insult them. My question is this, however, which is, what actions will the administration take bring our allies together in a way that is different from what we have done in the past . There is always lots of talk going on and any administration can talk about all the things happening, but what are we going to do that is distinct, that is difference, that is dramatic to bring the nations that follow the rule of law together so that we can hopefully reach some kind of a common approach or common strategy in how we are going to deal with china economically, militarily, geopolitically, and collectively confront them with the intent of dissuading them from pursuing the course they are on . We obviously do not want to go to war economically, militarily, or otherwise, but we do want to dissuade them and i think that can only happen when we are and as you pointed out, we can do that with others. I would note something you said at the nixon library. You said, maybe it is time for a new group of likeminded nations, a new alliance of democracies. I think that is a good idea, but what actions of a new and dramatic nature are you considering or are willing to take in order to accomplish the objective that you described . Sec. Pompeo senator, it is absolutely the case that to confront the Chinese Communist party will take a global effort. That is why i talked about this idea of a new alliance of democracies, what shape that would take. There is lots of discussion about it and we had many conversations with friends in the region. Step one, senator, has been to awaken the world to this threat. Thea long time, not just United States but the whole world saw there were lucrative opportunities in china, and that was basically Foreign Policy. Sell as much as you can, outsource jobs, build supply chains. I spent my first year and change traveling the world, trying to raise awareness of the threat. So that i think that is new and different. You may say it is not enough, but it was not happening before. I went through the list of things that have begun to turn the tide. There are still nations that understand this threat but dont feel like they are empowered, so we are working with diplomats to try to build out a set of relationships. Whether that is part of a formal organization or not, i am not sure i know the answer. But to convince them that america is prepared to lead in pushing back against the Chinese Communist party, and he will be there to support them. We have some 26 lines in the state department, probably an equal amount at the department of defense, all aimed at building out this set of alliances in Southeast Asia, more broadly with our partners to build out a set of commitments that can robustly communicate to the communist Chinese Party that, enough. If you want to behave on the global stage, you have to do it under a set of rules that has created so much prosperity around the world. That may be unsatisfying, senator. But its a real work in progress to get everyone fully aligned. I mentioned the eu dialogue. Very important. Foreign minister borrell asked me if we would have a dialogue with them on china. That look a lot of effort to get 26 eu nations to say, yes, this is something we have to confront, to identity a systemic rival. There is lots of work that goes into what seems pretty simple, i suppose. Sen. Romney i think its the most important work that we will be doing as a country and as an administration as we face this challenge. Just a parenthetical comment that comes to mind as you are speaking, and it relates to a discussion that was held earlier in regards to Tech Companies. I know theres great interest sometimes politically to go after some of the big Tech Companies, google, amazon, facebook, and berate them for their market power. If they violate american antitrust laws, thats totally appropriate. But i would note that were in a global competition and china has been successful in driving a lot of western companies out of business. Theyve not been successful in driving Companies Like these out of business. These are thriving and succeeding. The last thing we ought to be doing is trying to knock down businesses in the United States that are succeeding on a global stage. So we need to be careful not to flex our muscle, to berate those entity that is are successful those entities that are successful and are beating china. Alibaba would like to replace amazon. Tiktok would like to replace instagram. Its just an area of concern and i hope youre able to point these things out to other members of the administration who care deeply about that. Finally, were you surprised by the fact that 57 countries supported china 53 countries supported chinas crackdown on hong kong . Did that shock you as it did me . Sec. Pompeo i was surprised and dismayed. Sen. Romney thank you, mr. Secretary. Thank you, senator romney. Senator coombs. Sen. Coons thank you for holding this important hearing today. Let me just start with two specific issues, if i can, that i think are important. I want to associate myself with a number of other areas that have been explored, but let me touch on these two. Im working with members of this committee and your department to resolve terrorismrelated claims against sudan, which is in the middle of a credible democratic transition, to provide justice and compensation for over 700 terror victims and their family members, and to move our bilateral relationship forward after 30 years under the brutal dictator ship of omar al bashir. I just want to urge you and the administration to do everything you can to support the Prime Minister and to make sure that we seize this opportunity to bring real justice to the victims and their American Families and foreign nationals involved, and to build a new democratic partner in the region. Have you personally engaged on this issue, and can you commit to working transparently with congress as we try to find a solution urgently . Sec. Pompeo senator, thank you for your work. This is really important. Weve proposed that theres a resolution that would be in legislation that will be before congress here in the very near term. We think its the appropriate time to both bring justice to those from the 1998 bombings and get a real opportunity for the Prime Minister. Ate time to bring justice to those from the 1998 bombings and get a real opportunity for the Prime Minister. Ive talked to him a handful of times and the other leaders there in sudan. This is an opportunity that doesnt come along often. We know the history of sudan and the tragedy there. A chance not only for democracy to begun to be built out, but perhaps regional opportunities that could flow from that and lifting the state sponsored terrorism designation there, if we can take care of the victims of those tragedies, that would be a good thing for american Foreign Policy and i appreciate your assist fitness that regard. A number of members with strong interests and its my hope we can move in way to respect the constituent interests and makes progress. On the global fragility act legislation that was bipartisan that i led with senator graham and President Trump signed into law last summer, it requires a long term whole of Government Strategy to address extremism, instability in fragile states. The first deliverable under this legislation the global fragility strategy is due september 15th. Congress really isnt looking for old wine in new bottles so we urge you to look at the gfa as a tool to rethink our approach these challenges and the way that state and d. O. D. Work together. Are you using the tools to address the consequences of this pandemic and development, governance, security and can you commit that you will look hard at and resolve a technical issue on the creation of the prevention and stabilitization fun which was fund . Senator coons, ill get back to you on the last question that you asked. Im familiar with it but not enough to answer your question. I will get you an answer brief he. Youre right, im tracking the first deliverable. I will say i saw the first pass at this, you characterized it about right. There wasnt much that was original and ive asked the team to take a set of fresh looks, ask for outside views, folks on capitol hill, People Experts around the world to see if we cant use this tool you provided us on a bipartisan basis to deliver on the stated objectives of the law. It was an important piece of legislation and i dont want to miss the chance to develop the strategy to underpin all the actio actions we can take once the strategy is done. Its not something we intend to put on the shelf and admire but creates an operational opportunity underneath that strategy. Thank you. Today is the Funeral Service for a friend and former colleague, congressman john lewis. I was struck by a comment made by your former colleague former secretary of defense general mattis, who wrote following the weeks of protests after the unlawful murder of george floyd, general mattis wrote ive watched this weeks unfolding events angry and appalled. That is what the protesters are rightly demanding. Do you agree with general mattis and im concerned about the general direction of the most senior levels of the state department. This has been raised before. I wont go through the gao report. But of 189 ambassadors representing us abroad, only 3 are africanamerican, 4 hispanic, and i recognize that diversity in the department has been a longterm challenge, but i would be interested in hearing both do you agree with general mattis comments and what are you doing to mentor the next crop of Senior Leaders and diversify the seventh floor Leadership Team . I think the seventh floor Leadership Team, my communications secretary, undersecretary from management and Political Affairs are all part of diversity groups. Im proud of what our team has done but that doesnt begin to accomplish what we need to get done in the state department to get this right. Diversity inclusion is broad based and we need to make sure we have people from all across america with all viewpoints, every idea from all across america. Weve been narrow in how we have recruited from a certain set of institutions and certain universities and we dont get a full spectrum of understandings of america and the world if we are too narrow in how we think about diversity and inclusion. Weve built out a set of programs, your point about not having suf is shent minority representation in our administratoral leve administratoral ambassadorial levels is true. 23 will be coming shortly. More than half were female, first time thats ever happened. Were making progress, but i would agree that rate of change is insufficient. How do you think our own failure to address structural racial inequality impacts our diplomacy overseas and advocate around human rights issues . Its important we get it right at home, no doubt about that. I would tell you that we are a beacon for that around the world. I think you can see it in people who want to come to the United States of america because its the freest nation and a place you have immigrants from around the world. I am a believer people vote with their feet. They see america as the greatest most exceptional nation. We are not without flaws but as our diplomats travel the world they can be proud of our progress. Mr. Secretary, i want to ask a last question about our election. President trump has just tweeted that we should delay it. Im interested in whether you were able to vote by mail when you served abroad in the army, vote by mail in your home state of kansas, whether like many of us who serve in congress in both parties youve availed yourself as do virtually all of our diplomats and Development Professionals and Armed Services members of the opportunity to vote securely by mail . Have you done so and do you have any concerns about the security of you are election this november . Senator coons, i believe i have voted by absentee ballot while i was a soldier and member of congress i did a couple times as well. The state department has some some role in making sure we have Election Security. Its not our primariy focus. I will leave to others who have that focus. Is there any reason to be concerned those votes are fraudulent or ineligible to be counted if cast by mail or in absentee ballot by diplomats . Having a small group of people vote by absentee ballot is different than deciding to conduct a full mail ballots program. Those are two different pieces i will leave to the professionals to identify the level of risk associated with that. I also know and i saw this in my home state of kansas when you change the voting rules close to an election, its a difficult task. Thank you senator coons. Senator rubio. Good morning, mr. Secretary. Thank you for being here. I know Election Security is not your area of expertise, but i think you can comment on what im about to ask. Im sure youre well aware of influence efforts on the part of the chinese and taiwan to shape taiwanese policies, policies of their government. Im certain as most people on this committee i hope are aware how they pressure political figures they view are opposed to their interests and i think weve all witnessed, i think you will confirm this, china has engaged in efforts of disinformation particularly about the coronavirus. Im not asking you to comment specifically about the our country. I think im more than anything else asking does china ever decide they want to do those kinds of things to us would you assess they have the capability to conduct disinformation campaign, to pressure american political figures, potentially even members of congress, the way weve seen them do in taiwan and australia and other places . If they decided they wanted to do that, this is the second largest economy in the world, pretty significant capabilities. If they ever decided they wanted to come after us that way they would have the capability to do it, would they not . Senator, if i might have a second to respond to this, they certainly have the capability. Ive talked about this. The united front the chinese united front is working here in the United States today. Theyre meeting with state legislators and governors and running what one of the things that was taking place out of the consulate at houston were influence operations conducted by their diplomats. This isnt i know we have diplomats from all across the world who come to our offices as members of congress and talk about policy. What im talking about is fundamentally different from that. So they not only have the capability but the intention of conducting influence operations in the United States. I think were a pretty resilient nation and push back against that but the world needs to understand when its happening here in the United States, its happening all across and in their countries too. I think one of the things thats interesting yesterday the four ceos of these Tech Companies appeared i believe were House Committee yesterday if im not mistaken asked a simple question, do you believe, they were asked, do they believe that china steals technology from u. S. Firms. They were asked this question. I think theres pretty strong consensus across the board in both parties and in the media and elsewhere that the answer to that question is yes. The ceo of apple said, they havent experienced it. That was his answer. Ceo of google said neither have we. And the ceo of amazon says, oh, ive read that. Only the ceo of facebook said yes, absolutely. So apple, google, and amazon answered that question by saying either they hadnt experienced it or read that somewhere, but wouldnt comment further. Why would corporations such as this, some of whom by the way take it upon themselves to censor truth versus whats not true and what versus whats not true and what they believe some people should be saying on not others on the basis of they judge to be true. Why would three of the ceos of the four of the largest Tech Companies headquartered in the United States be afraid to answer that question . Senator, i can only speculate. I mean its patently clear to anyone whos watching that the chinese are engaged in intense efforts of intellectual property theft including to technology. Would it be fair in your mind to speculate they try influence people even in the Business Community . Absolutely. Okay. One more question. I think i know the answer to this as well, but would you agree with the belief i think again thats pretty widespread that china has systematically identified industries and te technologies they believe will be key, and theyve undertaken a systematic effort to dominate these industries while destroying our capability. The force transfer of technology, subsidies to their firms, blocking access to their markets. There is no doubt at this point that they have a very carefully crafted plan to dominate Certain Key Industries for the 21st century and not just our capabilities in those industries but everybody els. Thats a fair assessment. And theyve not been covert about this. Theyve spoken openly about how theyre approaching their commercial interests. The only thing they dont speak is rather than build these industries inside the tools they use are fundamentally different than the way western democracies do. We invest capital in the market. They run state sponsored enterprises, they steal intellectual property and they endeavor to undermine other companies and threaten to bully other countries around the world into buying their products. My last question is unrelated to china directly, but as youre well aware there have been press reports, speculations, commentators and the like that have made much about recent, you know, allegations and in one case an interview the president gave they took from it the president is willing to engage in negotiations with maduro and the maduro regime in venezuela. Could you envision as long as this administration is in office we would ever negotiate with the maduro regime for them to remain in power . Absolutely not. Our policy is not to negotiate for them for anything other than his departure from ruling that country. Thank you. Thank you. Next after the next question were going to take a ten minute recess, but right now, senator, the floor is yours. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and secretary pompeo. I appreciate your time and testimony today. I want to start with an important subject, democracy promotion. Earlier this year you called for free and Fair Elections in venezuela and nicaragua. If free and Fair Elections are held and current occupants then lose the state department then strongly encourages those leaders to step down from power. And i think that sort of thing is an Important Pillar of our Foreign Policy on a bipartisan basis, correct . Yes, sir. But i am hearing growing concern in this country about whether we are going to set a good example in your november election. In a recent fox news interview Chris Wallace asked President Trump whether he would give, a quote, direct answer that you will accept the election, unquote, in november. In response President Trump said i have to see. No, im not just going to say yes. No, im not going to say no. I didnt say last time either. During a 2016 debate he stated i will tell you at the time, i will keep you in suspense. And hes also called voting by mail as you know one of the major ways americans vote especially in a pandemic. He said over and over again an election is rigged if its vote by mail. So secretary pompeo, if President Trump refuses to accept the upcoming november election due to his lack of faith in voting by mail will you respect the results of the certified election as the state department typically does throughout the world . Senator, im not going to speculate. You had about 15 ifs in there. You should know i have said repeatedly to this committee i will follow the rule of law, follow the constitution. Ive endeavored to do that in everything ive done and ill continue to do that every day. The president has made this a legitimate question in americans minds through his own statements. Former pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security secretary tom ridge, a republican as you know says and i quote here, i think its very sad and very disappointing that with almost five months to go the president seems to want to try to delegitimize the november 3rd election. It just seems to me this may be an indication hes more worried about the outcome than hes worried about the fraud, end quote. This is a serious domestic and Foreign Policy question. We need to set a good example about the peaceful transition of power or else we undermine our entire Foreign Policy. George kennen wrote in his long telegram that in order to counter the soviet union, quote, much depends on the health and vigor of our own society. I think that is just as true today about russia, china, venezuela, iran and other authoritarian regimes that we have challenges with. And i can imagine few scenarios that would endanger our society more than a president ial candidate who refuses to accept the outcome of an election. Secretary pompeo, this year the committee to protect journalists issue said a report on the harm this president has caused to journalists First Amendment rights. In their summary the committee states and i quote, the Trump Administration has stepped up the prosecutions of news sources, interfered in the business of media owners, harassed journalists crossing u. S. Borders and empowered foreign leaders to restrict their own media. But trumps most effective ploy has been to destroy the credibility of the press. Dangerously undermining truth and consensus even as the covid19 pandemic threatens to kill tens of thousands of americans. Thats the end of their quote. Are you concerned that instead of promoting press Freedom Abroad america is now providing moral support to authoritarian efforts to crack down on critical Media Outlets from russia to china to venezuela and beyond . No, im not remotely concerned about that. And over 150,000 americans have now died from covid19 and we mourn their loss. Like most tragedies this is one that could have been prevented like the president s response to Hurricane Maria and other disasters. The federal governments response has been nowhere near up to the challenge. Instead this administration is now trying to change the narrative by attacking its own citizens at home and weakening the United States abroad. Across the world our allies in new zealand, japan, australia, south korea and many in europe have taken the science and the threat of covid19 seriously. The result is that they are beginning to return to normal. Even countries with very different systems than ours such as communist vietnam and cuba are beginning to reemerge from this deadly disease. Secretary pompeo, the best practices of these countries is simple. Isolate, track and trace, quarantine and wear a mask. We dont even know if the National Security advisor has met with you or other members of the National Security counsel lately. The u. S. Has not done those things sufficiently and here we are. Secretary pompeo, you and the white house seem to want to blame china for our inability to respond to this pandemic as well as to our allies. Is it true their handling of the virus and its true their handling of the virus at the early onset was problematic, but we are responsible for our own response. Do you think the president should look to europe, south korea, japan and other more successful nations to learn about how to better contain this pandemic . An awful lot to unpack there, senator. First, i would tell you that some of the countries you identified youre looking at the data theyre putting out, its worthless. So when youre comparing it to data from other countries when not in a Senate Hearing put that data forardwise positive of those conditions in other con. Its silly and the facts are not tracking, theyre not counting cases. So we need to make sure we have a shared factual database. How, we should look everywhere get best practices how to respond to this. And i know dr. Birx who works for me theyve done that and well continue to make sure we protect the American People in an appropriate way. Thank you, senator. With that the committee is going to be at ease subject to the call of the chair for approximately ten minutes