In a contentious move that has reverberated through the halls of intelligence, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard terminated two senior officials on Tuesday. The shake-up targeted Mike Collins, the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council, and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof, amidst allegations of leaks and political bias within the intelligence community.
The National Intelligence Council, a critical component of the U.S. intelligence apparatus, liaises with policymakers to coordinate strategic intelligence assessments. Whistleblower complaints have accused Collins of political bias, specifically actions to undermine the Trump administration. Collins's ties to Michael Morrell, former CIA Deputy Director, who was involved in a letter suggesting Russian disinformation regarding Hunter Biden's laptop, have also been brought to light.
Langan-Riekhof has been identified as a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with whistleblowers asserting her strong opposition to Trump's policies. Such allegations have fueled the narrative of a "deep state" resistance within the intelligence sector, as reported by senior intelligence officials and Fox News.
"Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Gabbard emphasized, underlining her commitment to stopping unauthorized disclosures.
This decisive action by Gabbard also included the strategic relocation of the National Intelligence Council from the CIA to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), in an effort to enhance oversight and curb politicization. A CIA spokesperson acknowledged the move as a logical step, given the NIC's inherent affiliation with the ODNI.
Gabbard's initiative reflects a broader strategy to eliminate what is described as entrenched political actors from the intelligence community—a task acknowledged by ODNI officials as a long-term endeavor. The agency is also reportedly closing down non-essential offices suspected of harboring leakers.
The Director’s Initiative Group (DIG), established by Gabbard in April, has been tasked with investigating internal weaponization, exposing leaks, and declassifying information in the public interest. With three individuals already referred for prosecution over alleged classified leaks to media outlets, Gabbard's stance is clear: "Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
Additionally, twelve intelligence professionals are under investigation for suspected leaks, and two CIA detailees have been terminated for unauthorized disclosures about the Tren de Aragua gang. The broader initiative also includes revoking security clearances of officials from the Biden administration, aiming to depoliticize intelligence operations.
Despite these sweeping changes, several critical ODNI positions remain unfilled, with delays in Senate confirmations hindering the Trump administration’s agenda. Gabbard continues disciplinary actions for misconduct, including inappropriate behaviors in NSA chatrooms, as part of her commitment to ethical intelligence practices.
The firing of Collins and Langan-Riekhof is a clear message from Gabbard and the Trump administration: the intelligence community is undergoing a significant transformation in an attempt to reestablish nonpartisan integrity and operational security.
