House Intelligence chair says Congress has been made aware of 'serious national security threat'

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Americans have “no need for alarm” after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner revealed Wednesday that members of Congress received “information concerning a serious national security threat.”

“Last month, I sent a letter to the White House requesting a meeting with the president to discuss a serious national security issue that is classified,” Johnson (R-La.) told reporters at the Capitol.

“In response to that letter, a meeting is now scheduled tomorrow on this matter here at the Capitol with the Gang of Four and with the president’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan,” he added, referring to a group of eight top members of Congress who are regularly briefed on highly classified information.

“I will press the administration to take appropriate action, and everybody can be comforted by that.”

Johnson added, “I want to assure the American people there is no need for public alarm. We are going to work together to address this matter, as we do all sensitive matters that are classified. And beyond that I’m not at liberty to disclose classified information and really can’t say much more.”

A source told The Post that the information was “urgent” and concerned a potential foreign military capability. 

The intelligence committee voted to make its contents available to all House members this week, the source added — meaning the mysterious alert’s substance could quickly become public knowledge due to the notoriously loose-lipped membership of that chamber, regardless of whether it remains classified.

Turner (R-Ohio) said in a statement: “I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.”

A spokesman for the committee did not immediately respond to a request for further information.

Asked about the nature of the threat during a White House press briefing Sullivan expressed frustration Wednesday with Turner’s public airing of the matter when the Gang of Eight was due to be briefed Thursday.

The top presidential adviser on national security declined to say whether it was a foreign military threat or if he could assure Americans they should not worry.

“In a way, that question is impossible to answer with a straight ‘yes,’” he said.

Sullivan added, however, “I will stand here at this podium and assert that, look you in the eye with confidence that we believe that we can, and will and are protecting the national security of the United States.”

Sullivan emphasized that Turner’s declassification request was “ultimately” a decision for President Biden.

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Senate members of the eight-legislator group due to receive more information were similarly tight-lipped.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told The Post that “I am aware of the threat but I can’t comment on anything classified.”

When asked if Americans should be concerned, Schumer said, “That’s all I’m going to say.”

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and vice chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a joint statement Tuesday afternoon that the panel “has the intelligence in question, and has been rigorously tracking this issue from the start.” 

“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration,” Warner and Rubio said. “In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.”