U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has scheduled a full committee hearing for October 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST. The hearing is titled “Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans” and will focus on how government agencies have influenced major technology companies to censor speech protected by the First Amendment.
The session aims to build upon themes from Senator Cruz’s recent report regarding actions by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) during the Biden administration. According to the report, CISA pressured social media platforms to suppress viewpoints that differed from those of the administration. The report also claims there was minimal resistance from both the technology sector and oversight bodies within the Department of Homeland Security.
Senator Cruz stated, “The First Amendment is the bedrock of this country, and we have an obligation to defend it. My recently released report on CISA reveals how the Biden administration threatened the First Amendment by pressuring Big Tech companies to censor lawful speech, disproportionately affecting conservative voices. It is dangerous for the government to abuse its authority and act as the speech police. No free society, built on an informed citizenry and public discourse, can thrive when government censors lawful speech and sets itself up as the arbiter of truth. With growing bipartisan interest in protecting free speech, I am increasingly hopeful Congress can advance legislation to stop government jawboning and safeguard every American’s right to free speech.”
Witnesses expected at the hearing include Eugene Volokh of Stanford University’s Hoover Institute; Alex Berenson, independent journalist and author; and Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist. An additional witness may be announced later.
The event will take place in Russell Senate Office Building Room 253 and will be available via livestream on both the committee website and YouTube.
Members of the media who wish to attend are asked to RSVP through their respective press galleries using provided contact information.
