Himes, James A.

James Himes represents Connecticut's 4th congressional district, which spans the southwest corner of the state including Bridgeport, Norwalk, Fairfield, and Stamford. As ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since 2023, he leads the Democratic opposition on the committee that oversees the nation's intelligence agencies, classified programs, and national security matters. This position gives him significant influence over intelligence policy, budget authority, and the power to demand answers from intelligence officials during hearings and investigations.

Himes brings substantial financial and business expertise to his intelligence work. Before entering Congress in 2009, he spent over a decade at Goldman Sachs, rising to vice president while working in banking and Latin America operations. Beyond his intelligence committee role, he serves on the House Financial Services Committee and has previously chaired the National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy Subcommittee. His background also includes local civic engagement, having served on the Greenwich Housing Authority and various community boards in Fairfield County.

As ranking member, Himes shapes the intelligence committee's investigative priorities and legislative agenda from the minority perspective. He has sponsored legislation addressing national security concerns, including the Combatting Foreign Surveillance Spyware Sanctions Act and the CLEAR Defense bill. His committee work focuses on oversight of intelligence agencies, counterintelligence operations, and classified programs—areas where his financial sector background and security clearance provide relevant expertise for evaluating complex intelligence matters and budgets.