Former Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster told lawmakers that U.S. counterintelligence efforts are falling behind, arguing that years of heavy emphasis on terrorism created gaps that foreign rivals have used to their advantage. His warning centered on how strategic competitors have gained room to expand activities aimed at weakening U.S. security and influence.
According to the description of his remarks, McMaster said China and Russia have built up espionage, cyber and influence operations while Washington remained focused on other threats. He suggested that this imbalance gave both countries opportunities to operate more aggressively across multiple fronts tied to national security.
McMaster also pointed to the way foreign powers have benefited from access to U.S. technology and investment. That concern reflects a broader debate in Washington over whether America’s open economic system has been used by rivals to strengthen capabilities that can later be turned against U.S. interests.
His testimony adds to ongoing pressure on policymakers to reassess how the United States handles counterintelligence, cyber defense and foreign influence risks. The warning underscores a larger policy challenge: adapting national security priorities to address long-term competition with China and Russia as well as more traditional espionage threats.
