MEDIA ADVISORY: Subcommittee Chairmen Giménez, Pfluger Announce Hearing on Arctic Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Giménez (R-FL) and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) announced a joint hearing for Thursday, March 26, to examine the changing Arctic security environment. The hearing will focus on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) domain awareness and counterintelligence capacity in this strategic region, which includes parts of the U.S. homeland. As new Arctic maritime routes open, new opportunities for commercial, tourism, and scientific exploration have emerged. At the same time, the region's abundant natural resources have intensified global competition for access and dominance of the Arctic frontier.

"As an Arctic nation, developments in the High North have a direct impact on our national security, our economy, and our sovereignty. In recent years, Putin's Russia has significantly expanded its military footprint in the region, while Communist China has sought to project its influence through increased deployments of icebreakers and other polar-capable vessels," Subcommittee Chairman Giménez said. "For decades, the United States Coast Guard has played a critical role in the Arctic by conducting search and rescue missions, enforcing maritime law, and safeguarding U.S. sovereignty at sea. Congress must strengthen our maritime law enforcement capabilities and ensure our nation is fully prepared to counter the growing threats posed by Russia and Communist China in the Arctic,"

"The Arctic region holds significant economic and military value for the United States, yet our operational advantage is being increasingly challenged by the growing influence of China and an increasingly aggressive Russia," Subcommittee Chairman Pfluger said. "As new maritime routes open, especially the Northern Sea Route, our limited domain awareness and visibility create new vulnerabilities that could be exploited by our adversaries and competitors. This hearing will help us better understand the strategic landscape and ensure that we are fully prepared to defend American interests and sovereignty in the Arctic."

DETAILS:

What: A joint hearing by the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security and the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence entitled, "Arctic Security in an Era of Global Competition: Safeguarding U.S. Interests in Frigid Waters."

When: Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EDT

Where: 310 Cannon House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Bryan Clark
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

Heather Conley
Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Marisol Maddox
Senior Arctic Fellow, Institute of Arctic Studies, Dartmouth College

Witness testimony will be added here. The hearing will be livestreamed on YouTube and will be open to the public and press. Press must be congressionally credentialed and should RSVP in advance.

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