What is alleged in the indictment represents a direct affront to the rule of law, human rights and American sovereignty. For example, we charged PRC government officials for taking part in Operation Foxhunt, an illegal multiyear campaign to coerce the return of certain Chinese nationals to China. We have pursued agents of the Chinese government who have tried to coerce American citizens and residents to comply with China’s repressive and extralegal orders. These acts of repression cross national borders, often reaching into the United States. In recent years, we have seen a rise in efforts by authoritarian regimes to interfere with freedom of expression and punish dissidents abroad. We are deploying this strategy to focus on those areas where the department’s authorities can have the most impact in combatting the greatest threats to our national security. We will prioritize NSD’s ongoing work and allocate our resources to address these threats head on, while at the same time preserving our flexibility to counter this activity effectively. Defending American institutions and values against these threats is a national security imperative and a priority for the department. And they employ a growing range of tactics to advance their interests and to harm the United States. These nations seek to undermine our core democratic, economic and scientific institutions. We see nations such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea becoming more aggressive and more capable in their nefarious activity than ever before. This includes growing threats within the United States and to Americans and U.S. Our goal with this strategy is to take a comprehensive approach that draws on the full extent of our tools and authorities to address the alarming rise in illegal activity from hostile nations. In the National Security Division, we are launching a new Strategy for Countering Nation-State Threats. Today, I want to focus specifically on the threats we face from hostile nations. Strategy for Countering Nation-State Threats We and our partners at the FBI and the intelligence community must adapt with determination and agility to meet them. Hostile foreign governments assault our democratic and economic institutions in pursuit of strategic competitive advantage. In cyberspace, we confront everything from profit-driven efforts to steal trade secrets and military technology to state-sponsored actors targeting critical infrastructure. We face an elevated threat from domestic terrorists who are motivated by a mix of ideologies. But the overall threat landscape is much more complex. Today, as I have seen firsthand over my first few months on the job, international terrorism remains a critical concern. That stayed true throughout my time as the General Counsel of NSA and then as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. When I was first at NSD, our number one focus was on terrorism. Within each of those areas, NSD is at the forefront of our nation’s efforts to use our legal authorities and tools to tackle evolving national security threats. This includes the FISA process, as well as providing advice and support on a variety of national security laws and policies. We also handle intelligence operations and oversight. Those include going after terrorists and spies, including in cyberspace, countering foreign malign influence, enforcing our export controls and sanctions laws, and reviewing foreign investments in U.S. The division has a wide range of responsibilities. That mandate is the north star of our work. In everything we do at DOJ, our first priority is to adhere to the Constitution and to pursue equal justice under the law. In the years since, again and again, the work of NSD has proven critical to our national security. The idea was to unify and prioritize DOJ’s national security work and to promote cooperation with the intelligence community and the broader national security community. The Role of the National Security DivisionĪs many of you know, Congress created NSD in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. And I am so proud to be leading NSD and its dedicated workforce now. It is remarkable to see how the division has grown and what it has achieved over the years. In November, I returned as the Assistant Attorney General for National Security. When NSD was established in 2006, I was the senior career official responsible for the Department of Justice’s intelligence work. Jamil and I first worked together in the brand new National Security Division more than 15 years ago. You all have a well-deserved reputation for taking on hard problems and developing practical solutions. Unfortunately, my good friend Jamil Jaffer wasn’t able to be here today.Īs I have told Jamil, I am so impressed with what you have built here at NSI. Thank you to the National Security Institute and George Mason University for inviting me.
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