Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard removes two high-ranking officials from their positions at the National Intelligence Council, sparking concerns about political interference in intelligence matters.
According to NBC News, the dismissals of Michael Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof came after their oversight of an intelligence assessment that challenged President Trump's claims about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua's connection to the Maduro regime.
The intelligence assessment, which represented a consensus among intelligence agencies except the FBI, concluded that the gang does not operate under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government. This finding contradicted the Trump administration's justification for invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used 1798 law, to expedite the deportation of suspected gang members without standard due process procedures.
The White House has maintained that Tren de Aragua operates as an extension of the Venezuelan government, using this claim to justify extraordinary measures for gang member deportation. The administration's unprecedented use of the Alien Enemies Act marks the first time the law has been employed outside of wartime circumstances.
Gabbard's office defended the dismissals through spokesperson Olivia Coleman, who emphasized the director's commitment to working with President Trump to prevent politicization within the Intelligence Community. Deputy Chief of Staff Alexa Henning specifically cited political bias as the reason for the officials' removal.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer had previously called for action against the National Intelligence Council, specifically targeting Collins in social media posts last month. Loomer, who claimed credit for the recent dismissal of NSA overseer Gen. Timothy Haugh, questioned the council's motives in challenging the administration's stance on the gang.
Former CIA Director John Brennan expressed serious concerns about the implications of the firings for the intelligence community. He warned that the dismissals send a threatening message to analysts throughout the intelligence sector.
It's clearly a signal to tell analysts throughout the intelligence community: 'you tell the truth, you provide objective analysis, as you're supposed to be doing, you are running the risk of getting fired. They are two of the most experienced, accomplished, and talented analysts in the entire U.S. intelligence community.
Jonathan Panikoff, a former National Intelligence Council analyst, emphasized the organization's crucial role in providing nonpartisan intelligence analysis. Democratic lawmakers have strongly criticized the move, with Senator Mark Warner describing it as a politically motivated purge.
Representative Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has taken formal action by demanding explanations from Gabbard. His letter requires evidence supporting the allegations of political bias against the dismissed officials within a week's deadline.
The House Intelligence Committee's involvement highlights growing concerns about proper notification procedures. Himes noted that such significant personnel changes should have been communicated to congressional intelligence committees as required by law.
Democratic legislators argue that the dismissals represent a dangerous precedent of punishing career intelligence professionals for producing analyses that contradict administration positions. The controversy has intensified debates about the independence of intelligence agencies under the current administration.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard terminated two senior intelligence officials after they oversaw an assessment challenging the White House's claims about Venezuelan gang connections. The dismissed officials, Michael Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof, had decades of experience in intelligence analysis and were responsible for a memo that questioned the administration's justification for using the Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua gang members.
