WASHINGTON — A highly anticipated emergency congressional hearing concluded Thursday without testimony after lawmakers spent the entire session debating microphone placement, volume levels, and who was responsible for turning the system on.
The hearing, convened to address what leadership described as an “urgent national matter,” adjourned after nearly three hours with no witnesses sworn in and no official statements entered into the record.
“This was supposed to be a serious discussion,” said Rep. Harold McIntyre (D–NY). “Unfortunately, we could not hear ourselves think.”
Technical Issues Quickly Dominate Proceedings
The session opened with several members attempting to adjust their microphones simultaneously, resulting in loud feedback that forced the committee chair to pause the hearing repeatedly.
Staff members were seen moving between seats, testing cables and exchanging whispered instructions while lawmakers debated whether the microphones were “too sensitive” or “not sensitive enough.”
“At one point, we were pretty sure the problem was solved,” said one aide. “Then someone touched something.”
Disagreement Over Responsibility
As the hearing progressed, attention shifted from the technical malfunction to determining who was at fault.
Several members blamed committee staff, while others suggested the issue stemmed from outdated equipment installed during a previous Congress. One lawmaker proposed that the microphones were “calibrated for a different room entirely.”
“This wouldn’t be happening if we’d stuck with the system we had before,” said Rep. Thomas Keene (R–OH). “Or maybe the one before that.”
Witnesses Remain Seated
The panel of scheduled witnesses remained seated throughout the hearing, occasionally adjusting their earpieces but otherwise waiting silently as discussions continued around them.
At one point, a witness attempted to signal that their microphone appeared to be functioning. The gesture went unnoticed.
“We were ready to testify,” said one witness afterward. “But we didn’t want to interrupt.”
Bipartisan Frustration Expressed
Despite the lack of progress, lawmakers from both parties agreed that the situation was unacceptable.
“This is not how a functioning institution operates,” said Sen. Linda Parker (I–VT), who attended the hearing as an observer. “We need to fix this before we can fix anything else.”
Several members suggested scheduling a follow-up hearing once the technical issues could be resolved.
Hearing Adjourned Pending Further Review
The committee ultimately voted to adjourn the session, citing the need for additional testing and consultation with audio technicians.
In a brief statement, committee leadership said the hearing would be rescheduled “as soon as the equipment is fully operational.”
No date was announced.
