Gabbard Announces Sweeping Cuts and Security Clearance Revocations at ODNI
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A major restructuring of the office of the Director of National intelligence (ODNI) is underway, with Director Tulsi Gabbard announcing plans to reduce staff by nearly 50% and revoke security clearances for 37 current and former US officials. The moves, unveiled in recent days, signal a dramatic shift in the agency’s priorities and a heightened focus on internal accountability.
Gabbard characterized the ODNI as having become “bloated and inefficient” over the past two decades, justifying the significant cuts and a $700 million reduction in it’s annual budget. She stated the “serious changes” are intended to consolidate teams and ensure the agency fulfills its core mission: to “provide objective, unbiased, timely intelligence.”
Staff Reductions and Restructuring
The planned staff reductions build upon cuts already implemented under Gabbard’s leadership. According to the Federal News Network, which focuses on the federal workforce, she has already reduced staff by approximately 25%. The restructuring will eliminate several key units, including the Foreign Malign Influence Center, responsible for monitoring foreign interference in US affairs. However, a fact sheet released by the ODNI indicated that this function is already duplicated by other intelligence units.
further streamlining will see the elimination of units dedicated to tracking weapons of mass destruction and cyber threats, with the rationale being that this work is also performed elsewhere within the intelligence community. A group focused on long-range global trend forecasting will also be dissolved. when Gabbard assumed leadership, the ODNI employed around 1,800 individuals.
Security Clearance Revocations Spark Controversy
The proclamation of staff cuts was swiftly followed by news of the revocation of security clearances for 37 individuals. Gabbard, acting on a directive from the president, accused the officials of “politicising intelligence for partisan or personal gain.” The list of those affected includes national security aides who served under former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
A memo posted on social media detailed the rationale behind the revocations, alleging that the officials had engaged in activities such as “leaking classified intelligence without authorization” and committing “intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards.” Though,Gabbard offered no specific evidence to support these accusations.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” Gabbard wrote on X.”Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American peopel have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”
It remains unclear whether all 37 individuals currently held active security clearances, which grant access to sensitive government information and are sometimes required for employment in the private sector, particularly in defense and aerospace.
Echoes of Past Actions and Political Context
This is not the first instance of the Trump governance revoking security clearances for intelligence officials.Previous actions included similar measures taken against Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former lawmakers involved in investigations related to the US capitol riot.
In recent weeks, Gabbard has publicly challenged the conclusions reached by Obama-era intelligence officials regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election. Both Trump and Gabbard have labeled the intelligence community’s assessment a “treasonous conspiracy” aimed at undermining the president’s electoral victory.
Democrats have strongly criticized the moves, dismissing them as a political distraction and accusing the White House of attempting to deflect attention from other issues, including Trump’s alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” a spokesman for Obama stated last month.
The sweeping changes at the ODNI, coupled with the controversial security clearance revocations, represent a significant upheaval within the US intelligence community and raise questions about the future direction of national security policy.
