ASD Co-Directors Jamie Fly and Laura Rosenberger discuss the five steps Congress can take to defend America against foreign influence.
Last week, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster conceded that, “We have failed to impose sufficient costs… [on Russia for the Kremlin’s use of]…new and old forms of aggression to undermine our open societies.” Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s recent indictment of Russia’s Internet Research Agency and related individuals, made clear the extent of the operation attacking our country’s elections and institutions. And yet, more than a year after the 2016 presidential election, and with mid-term elections looming on the horizon, little has been done to increase America’s defenses against the threat of foreign interference in our democracy or impose costs on those who do.
Even in the absence of decisive action by the executive branch, Congress has significant powers to defend American democracy. Many of these actions are common sense measures every member of Congress – on both sides of the aisle – should be able to support.
