Federal Investigation
9/11 Commission Public Hearings
Official testimonies and investigations into the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
About the 9/11 Commission Hearings
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States conducted twelve public hearings between March 2003 and June 2004 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the September 11 attacks. These hearings featured testimony from government officials, intelligence experts, emergency responders, and affected families.
This page highlights key points from each hearing. For complete testimonies, visit the official 9/11 Commission website.
First Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (March 31 - April 1, 2003)
New York City
- Remarks by Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg
- Testimony on the experience of the attacks from victims' families
- Intelligence and counter-terrorism policy discussions
- Border security, money tracking, and transportation security
- Law enforcement and domestic intelligence capabilities
- Immediate response to the attacks
Second Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (May 22-23, 2003)
Civil Aviation Security
- Congressional oversight and intelligence inquiries
- State of civil aviation security on September 11, 2001
- Testimony from affected families and constituencies
- The attacks and emergency response procedures
- Reforming civil aviation security: next steps and recommendations
Third Public Hearing (July 9, 2003)
Terrorism, Al Qaeda, and the Muslim World
- Character of transnational terrorist threats
- Relationships between Arab states and terrorist groups
- Violent extremism within the Muslim community
- Expert panels on Al Qaeda structure and operations
- The challenge within the Muslim world
Fourth Public Hearing (October 14, 2003)
Intelligence and the War on Terror
- Leadership of U.S. intelligence agencies
- Intelligence and national security policy coordination
- Effectiveness of warning systems against transnational threats
- Testimony from former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger
- Testimony from former CIA Director John Deutch
Fifth Public Hearing (November 19, 2003)
Emergency Preparedness
- Public-private sector partnerships (Governor James McGreevey)
- Skyscraper safety issues from 9/11 family members
- Standards for emergency management and business continuity
- Private sector preparedness strategies
- Risks and consequences of terrorism for businesses
Sixth Public Hearing (December 8, 2003)
Security and Liberty
- Intelligence collection within the United States
- Protecting privacy while preventing terrorism
- Use of immigration laws and enemy combatant designations
- Government organization and domestic intelligence
- Testimony from former Attorney General William Barr
Seventh Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (January 26-27, 2004)
Borders, Transportation, and Managing Risk
- Border security system prior to September 11
- Entry of the 9/11 hijackers into the United States
- Hijacker identification, watchlisting, and tracking
- Visas and watchlisting procedures today
- Aviation security on 9/11: regulators and airlines
- Risk management after September 11
Eighth Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (March 23-24, 2004)
Counterterrorism Policy
- Testimony from Secretary of State Colin Powell
- Testimony from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
- Testimony from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
- Testimony from CIA Director George Tenet
- Testimony from former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger
- Staff statements on diplomacy, military response, and intelligence policy
Ninth Public Hearing (April 8, 2004)
Testimony from Dr. Condoleezza Rice
- National Security Advisor testifies before the Commission
- Pre-9/11 intelligence and threat assessments
- Administration response to terrorism warnings
Tenth Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (April 13-14, 2004)
Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community
- Testimony from Attorney General John Ashcroft
- Testimony from former Attorney General Janet Reno
- Testimony from former FBI Directors Louis Freeh and Thomas Pickard
- Law enforcement and counterterrorism before 9/11
- Threats and responses in 2001
- FBI leadership and initiatives post-9/11
Eleventh Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (May 18-19, 2004)
Emergency Response
- Response of emergency departments on September 11
- Fire, police, and emergency management in New York City
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey response
- Arlington County, Virginia emergency response at the Pentagon
- Testimony from former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
- Testimony from Secretary of Homeland Security Thomas Ridge
Twelfth Public Hearing - Days 1-2 (June 16-17, 2004)
The 9/11 Plot and National Crisis Management
- Federal government's intelligence on Al Qaeda and the 9/11 plot
- Outline of the 9/11 plot staff statement
- Military and civilian aviation response to the attacks
- Improvising homeland defense on September 11
- FAA response and communications on 9/11