Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, CIA director nominee and Kansas Republican Mike Pompeo, was grilled by newly elected Senator Kamala Harris of California over the Central Intelligence Agency’s human resources and employee benefits policies regarding gays and lesbians and NASA’s climate change report.
HARRIS: Your voting record and stated position on gay marriage and the importance of having a quote un quote traditional family structure for raising children is pretty clear. Um, I disagree with your position, but, of course, you are entitled to your opinion. Um, I don’t want to that, however, to impact your opinion on that matter—the recruitment or retention of patriotic LGBT women and men in the CIA, some of whom, of course, have taken great risks to their lives for our country. Can you commit to me that your personal views on this issue will remain your personal views and will not impact internal policies that you put in place at the CIA?
POMPEO: Senator Harris, you have my full commitment to that. I would only add that, um, in my life as, uh, a private businessman, this same set of issues was out there. I had my views at that time as well, and I treated each and every member of the workforce that iIwas responsible for at those times with the dignity and respect and demanded of them the same things I demanded of every other person that was working as part of my team.
HARRIS: And do I have your assurance that this equal treatment will, uh, include policies related to child care services, family benefits, and accompanied post for dependents?
POMPEO: Uh, without knowing the full set of policies and benefits at the Central Intelligence Agency, I haven’t had a chance to find that out just yet, you have my assurance that every employee will be treated in a way that is appropriate and equal.
HARRIS: And that you will not put in place any policies that would discriminate against any members because of their sexual orientation?
POMPEO: Ma’am, I can’t imagine putting in place any policy that was discriminatory with respect to any employee.
HARRIS: Thank you. I’m also concerned about rhetoric related to Muslims from high-profile members of the incoming administration, in particular, Lt. General Michael Flynn with whom I imagine you’ll be working closely. I don’t want that to impact recruitment or retention of the patriotic and critically important Muslim men and women of the CIA, some, of course, who have taken great risks to serve our country. Can you commit to me that you will be a tireless advocate for all members of the CIA? All of the workforce?
POMPEO: Yes, ma’am.
HARRIS: CIA Director Brennan—who spent 25-year career at the CIA as an analyst, a senior manager, and station chief in the field—has said that when, “CIA analysts look for deeper causes of rising instability in the world, one of the causes those CIA analysts see as the—is the impact of climate change.” Do you have any reason to doubt the assessment of these CIA analysts?
POMPEO: Uh, Senator Harris, I haven’t had a chance to read those materials with respect to climate change. I do know the agency’s role there. It’s role is to collect foreign intelligence, to understand threats to the world—that would certainly include threats from poor governance, regional instability, threats from all sources, and deliver that information to policymakers. And to the extent the changes in climatic activity, uh, are part of that of that foreign intelligence collection task, we’ll deliver that information to you all and to the president.
HARRIS: In the past you have questioned the scientific consensus on change. Nevertheless, according to NASA, multiple studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals, showed 97% or more of actively published, um, climate scientists agree that climate warning trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. Do you have any reason to doubt NASA’s findings?
POMPEO: Senator, I’ve actually spoken to this in my political life some. My commentary, most all has been directed to ensuring the policies that America put in place, uh, actually achieve the objective of ensuring we didn’t have catastrophic harm that resulted from changing climate. I continue to hold that view. I, frankly, as the director of CIA, uh, would prefer today not to get into the details of climate debate and science. It just seems—my role is going to be so different and unique from that. It is gonna be to work alongside warriors keeping Americans safe… Uh, and so, I stand by the things I’ve said previously with respect to that issue.
HARRIS: So, I’m not clear. Do you believe that NASA’s findings are debatable?
POMPEO: Senator, I have to tell you… I haven’t spent enough time to tell you that I, uh, have looked at NASA’s findings in particular. I just can’t give you any judgement about that today.
HARRIS: Can you guarantee me that you will, and we’ll have a follow up conversation on this?
POMPEO: I’m happy to continue to talk about it, yes ma’am. Of course.
HARRIS: Thank you.
