WASHINGTON – Leading Democrats from the intelligence committees in both the House and Senate have strongly criticized the Trump administration’s approach to intelligence operations. They claim that under President Donald Trump, U.S. intelligence agencies have been both weakened and politicized.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia delivered a speech on the Senate floor, asserting that the Trump administration prioritizes loyalty over skill, leading to the dismissal of seasoned intelligence officials, including the former National Security Agency chief. He highlighted that significant budget cuts to intelligence agencies have hindered efforts to counter foreign misinformation and have also weakened the nation’s cyber defenses.
According to Warner, countries like China and Russia, as well as other adversaries, are likely to exploit these vulnerabilities in the face of increasing global tensions.
“We are witnessing, in real time, an administration dismantling the safeguards that have protected this nation for decades,” Warner stated, emphasizing his concerns as the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has argued that previous administrations have also politicized intelligence work. She has cited this politicization as a reason for revoking the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials this year.
On Thursday, two House Democrats sent a letter to Gabbard, seeking clarification on whether recent actions against suspected drug cartel vessels have led certain countries to restrict their intelligence-sharing with the United States.
The letter from Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut and Joaquin Castro of Texas comes after recent reports that Colombia, Britain and the Netherlands have limited some intelligence sharing with the U.S.
The strikes have killed dozens of people that the government says were involved in drug trafficking, leading to questions about due process, international law and the use of force. Colombia’s president wrote on social media this month that intelligence sharing would be restricted “as long as missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean continue.”
“To the extent that targeted killings of alleged drug traffickers or other policies reduce the willingness of our partners to work closely with our national security agencies, the United States will be less safe as a result,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Gabbard.
In response to questions about the letter, a spokesperson for Gabbard pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent comments on strong U.S. partnerships with the U.K. and other nations.
Rubio also pushed back on reports about Britain limiting intelligence sharing with the U.S. over concerns about the strikes, calling it “a false story.”
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