Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence again favorably reported out the nomination of William R. Evanina to continue serving as Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). The nomination was first passed by the Committee last May.

“Director Evanina’s ability to effectively lead the NCSC is not in doubt,” Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) said. “Over the years, he has proven time and again he has the real-world experience and professionalism our country needs to navigate increasingly complex threats to both the public and private sectors. Congress called attention to the importance of counterintelligence matters by making the director a Senate-confirmed position. It should confirm a full-time director without any further delay.”

“Absolutely no one questions Bill Evanina's qualifications for a job he has been doing for years already in an acting capacity, which is why the Senate Intelligence Committee has once again unanimously approved his nomination to be Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center,” Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) said. “From brazen Russian espionage, to Chinese IP theft, to insider threats, our country is facing an enormous number of thorny and complex counterintelligence challenges. We need a Senate-confirmed leader to head our nation's counterintelligence strategy. Bill Evanina should be confirmed without further delay.”

“I’m pleased to once again support Bill Evanina’s nomination as Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.  Counterintelligence is vital to our national security and his confirmation for this position is long-overdue,” said Senator James Risch (R-ID).

“Today’s unanimous vote by the Intelligence Committee in favor of Bill Evanina’s nomination to be Director of the National Counterintelligence Security Center is a strong signal of support for Bill’s leadership of this crucial institution,” Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) said. “At a time when the counterintelligence threats our nation faces have never been higher, I urge the full Senate to act on this nomination in short order.” 

“Director Evanina has a demonstrated track record of leadership, professionalism, and expertise in the counterintelligence field,” said Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). “I’m proud to support his nomination to continue leading the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. I hope to see the Senate quickly move forward on confirming Director Evanina, and all of the senior intelligence community nominees we need in place to keep our country safe.”

“The United States is under constant threat from spies who seek to compromise our critical infrastructure and steal our most closely guarded secrets,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) said. “Rival countries like China are engaged in sophisticated campaigns to penetrate the government agencies, industries, and research laboratories that power and protect our nation. Technology theft alone costs our nation tens of billions each year. The cost to our security is far higher. Counterintelligence professionals like William Evanina fight every day to protect our nation from foreign spies. Mr. Evanina is a former law-enforcement officer with years of experience in counterintelligence. I’m proud to support his re-nomination to lead the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.”