Congressional dysfunction is a national security concern

Americans turning on the television or scanning the news on their phones on any given day will find stories about national security threats to the U.S. Former Ambassador Jon Huntsman said recently to the U.S. Senate, "There is no question — underline no questions — that the Russian government interfered in the U.S. election last year."

This country faces no shortage of other foreign policy challenges, including threats from Russia, China, North Korea — and the list goes on.

But the greatest danger to our country is not coming from overseas. It is within our own borders, and there is already evidence of its growing threat: Our elected leaders' inability to govern.

What happens when America is so divided that it no longer stands out as a shining beacon of democracy for the rest of the world? And can the country afford to sacrifice soft power at such a critical moment when authoritarianism is on the rise abroad?

If one only follows news reports, dysfunction is all Washington lawmakers have in common: Majorities in Congress disagree to the point of gridlock on everything from improving America's healthcare system to overhauling the tax code. There's also division within factions of both the Republican and Democratic parties on issues like Medicare and immigration. The lack of bipartisan agreement on a host of issues is paralyzing the legislative process.