The witnesses testified about the nation’s Terrorist Threat Advisory System, a color-coded warning system that is the primary means by which the federal government communicates to citizens its judgment on the risk of terrorist attacks at any given time. Admiral Loy talked about his department’s ability to target specific information with specific actions and prevention, and the thresholds for recommending changes in the warning system. Mr. Brennan detailed the work of his center in obtaining information from the Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. The witnesses were questioned about the impact of the warning system on citizens and also the impact on the budgets of local communities.