Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized the administration’s Middle East policies and election security actions during an appearance Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Speaking after a second recent attack on an American base in Jordan, Warner offered condolences to the families of the affected service members, noting that casualties have reached 16 fatalities alongside hundreds of seriously wounded individuals.
Warner characterized the broader regional conflict as a “war of choice” started without a clear plan, asserting that “there was no imminent threat from Iran” before it began.
During the interview, Warner pointed to multiple failures in achieving stated U.S. military goals in the region. He stated that attempting to secure enriched uranium from bunkers would require a minimum of 15,000 ground troops, a move he noted no one is currently pursuing. Furthermore, the senator expressed frustration over the financial inefficiency of the military response to regional drone threats.
“On that point, it gets me particularly crazy, because we’re using missiles that cost $2.5 million to shoot down Iranian drones that cost $50,000,” Warner said. He added that Ukraine had offered the U.S. technology to intercept these targets using $5,000 drones, but the administration turned down the offer.
Turning to domestic intelligence and nominations, Warner announced his intention to vote against Jay Clayton, the current nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI). While Warner acknowledged a long, positive working relationship with Clayton during his tenure at the Securities and Exchange Commission, he stated he was “bitterly disappointed” by Clayton’s recent committee testimony. Specifically, Warner cited Clayton’s apparent lack of awareness regarding Tulsi Gabbard’s unauthorized search of a Georgia election center. Despite his opposition, Warner acknowledged that Clayton is still likely to advance out of committee and secure confirmation if all Senate Republicans vote in his favor.
Warner also directed strong criticism at the acting DNI, Bill Pulte, calling his appointment an “absolute disaster.” He argued that Pulte lacks intelligence experience and possesses a history of politically weaponizing private mortgage data during his previous leadership roles at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The conversation then shifted to election security and recent comments made by Donald Trump regarding vulnerabilities to foreign hacking. Warner stated unequivocally that the Senate Intelligence Committee has not been presented with any evidence to support claims of widespread machinery hacking or direct vote manipulation by foreign adversaries.
According to Warner, while foreign powers like China and Russia continuously attempt to exert influence over U.S. elections, intelligence agencies have concluded that these efforts did not alter actual vote counts or breach voting machinery. He noted that voter files are widely available for commercial purchase, minimizing the significance of foreign entities acquiring them. However, he emphasized that the committee remains highly concerned about deeper cyber espionage, such as China’s previous hacks into the Office of Personnel Management and private insurance companies.
Warner concluded the interview by raising concerns over recent structural changes to domestic election oversight, pointing out that the administration has downsized the Cybersecurity Agency and dismantled voluntary tracking programs like the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Warner claimed these actions, alongside recent rhetoric, represent an effort “to undermine Americans’ confidence that their vote will be actually counted and mean something.”
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