The United States' cyber and special operations forces are now at the centre of modern warfare, lawmakers and military leaders told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on 29 April, warning that threats are "immediate, persistent" and escalating — even as Washington remains deeply engaged in an expanding conflict with Iran.

Key Developments at the Senate Hearing

Opening the hearing on the posture of US Special Operations Command and Cyber Command, Senator Roger Wicker described recent missions as "a watershed moment for American military power," noting that cyber capabilities are now embedded from the outset of military planning. "Cyber threats are immediate, persistent, and they are escalating every day," Wicker said, warning that adversaries are actively targeting critical infrastructure and government networks.

Senator Jack Reed placed the hearing in stark context, noting it came "two months since President Trump launched the war with Iran," with both special operations and cyber forces "deeply engaged in this conflict." Reed said these units had played "a major role in enabling combat operations, conducting information warfare and providing intelligence support."

Adversaries Pre-Positioning Inside US Infrastructure

Katherine Sutton, Assistant Secretary of Defense for cyber policy, told lawmakers that adversaries are now "pre-positioning disruptive capabilities inside our nation's critical infrastructure." She warned that this represents a strategic shift — from mere exploitation to active effects — designed to "disrupt military deployments and sow chaos in crisis or conflict."

Sutton specifically flagged Volt Typhoon as "a significant and persistent threat to our national security." She also highlighted the accelerating role of artificial intelligence, calling it "a powerful force multiplier" that increases "the speed, scale, and sophistication" of attacks. This comes amid a broader global race among major powers to weaponise AI for cyber operations.

Over 8,000 Cyber Missions in 2025

General Joshua Rudd, head of Cyber Command, disclosed that the US conducted more than 8,000 cyber missions in 2025 — a 25 per cent increase from 2020 — with even higher activity expected through the remainder of the year. Rudd stressed that cyber operations are now integral to joint military action, citing operations Absolute Resolve and Epic Fury as examples of "cyber and kinetic operations working seamlessly."

Notably, the pace of cyber missions reflects a doctrinal shift that has been building since at least 2018, when Cyber Command was elevated to a unified combatant command. What once served as a support function has become a primary instrument of force projection.

Special Operations Under Unprecedented Strain

Admiral Frank Bradley told the committee that the US faces a reality of "simultaneity" — managing simultaneous threats from China, Russia, Iran, terrorism, and criminal networks. "We do not have the luxury of focusing on only a single goal or mission," Bradley said, adding that demand for special operations forces is higher than ever.

Lawmakers acknowledged the toll this is taking. Reed warned that the high operational tempo could be "unsustainable," while Wicker raised concerns that cyber forces are "working overtime" without sufficient capacity to rotate or replace personnel.

Cybercom 2.0 and the Road Ahead

To address growing capability and personnel gaps, the Pentagon is advancing "Cybercom 2.0," a major overhaul targeting recruitment, training, and retention of cyber specialists. Sutton said the initiative aims to build "domain mastery and specialised skills" across the force. Lawmakers from both parties stressed that maintaining technological superiority — particularly in AI and advanced cyber tools — is non-negotiable, warning that losing this edge would be "unacceptable."

The hearing also surfaced concerns over election security, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and the growing role of allied nations in countering shared global threats. With Cybercom 2.0 still in its early stages, the gap between operational demand and available capacity remains the committee's most urgent unresolved question.