Congressional Affairs at CSIS

As a bipartisan think tank, CSIS strives to provide a platform for leaders in Congress to engage with the broader policy community on issues affecting U.S. national security and foreign affairs.

Expert Support for Congress

For more than 50 years, CSIS has prioritized outreach to Members of Congress and their staff to provide in-depth, strategic analysis and guidance from the world’s leading experts in defense and security policy, global challenges, and regional studies. More recently, CSIS has also prioritized outreach on issues related to economic security and technology.

Through speaking events, topical briefing series, participation in policy conferences, and membership on commissions and task forces, CSIS helps leaders in Congress effectively engage the broader policy community.

CSIS’s expertise in providing grounded, actionable, and bipartisan policy solutions uniquely positions CSIS to help Congress address the national security, development, and foreign policy challenges facing the United States.

CSIS Provides:

  • A bipartisan platform from which members of Congress can powerfully engage the wider policy community
  • In-office briefings from top policy experts with government, academic, and field experience
  • Staff-focused policy discussions
  • Hill briefs, short digests of key issues for congressional staff
  • Commentaries, Critical Questions, and other timely analysis on current issues
  • In-depth reports with realistic policy recommendations
  • Testimony
  • Opportunities for Members and staff to participate in CSIS events, projects, and initiatives

Are you a congressional staff wanting to contact a CSIS expert? Are you interested in CSIS public or private events for Members of Congress and staff? Connect with our team!

Chloe Himmel

Chloe Himmel

Director, Congressional and Government Affairs
Christian Hyde

Christian Hyde

Associate Director, Congressional and Government Affairs
Daniel Bengard

Dylan Bengard

Program Manager, Congressional and Government Affairs

Featured Testimony

All Congressional Affairs at CSIS Content

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The UK's National Security Strategy in the Middle East

The UK’s National Security Strategy (NSS) lists the different tools the UK has in the Middle East – diplomatic, humanitarian, military, and prosperity footprint – but does not say which tools are most effective and should be prioritized with limited resources.

Congressional Testimony by Will Todman — October 20, 2025

Gregory B. Poling: Finding Nemo’s Future: Conflicts over Ocean Resources

Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing is a nontraditional, but important national security consideration. The U.S. is equipped to take stronger action to limit IUU fishing and its consequences of abetting crime networks and violating international sovereignty.

Congressional Testimony by Gregory B. Poling — June 12, 2025

Whitley Saumweber: Finding Nemo’s Future: Conflicts over Ocean Resources

The issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is central to questions of national wealth, sovereignty, and market stability in the U.S. and our global partners. Adequate solutions to the escalating IUU problem will require interagency and international cooperation on this bipartisan topic.

Transcript by Whitley Saumweber — June 12, 2025