Leading Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees have sharply criticized the way President Donald Trump's administration is handling intelligence matters, arguing that US intelligence agencies have been undermined and politicized under Trump, the Associated Press reported.
During a speech to the House of Representatives, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia said that the Trump administration has rewarded loyalty over competence and has fired experienced intelligence officers, including the former head of the National Security Agency. He also noted that significant cuts to intelligence agencies have stalled efforts to combat foreign disinformation while also reducing cyber defenses.
China, Russia and other adversaries will seek to take advantage of these changes as global tensions rise, Warner said.
“We are watching in real time an administration dismantle the protective barriers that have protected this country for generations,“ said Warner, a Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has accused previous administrations of exploiting intelligence work for political ends and cited politicization as one reason she stripped 37 current and former national security officials of their classified information this year.
Meanwhile, two House Democrats wrote a letter to Gabbard asking for information about whether strikes on suspected drug cartel boats have led some countries to limit intelligence sharing with the United States.
The letter from Representatives Jim Himes of Connecticut and Joaquin Castro of Texas comes after reports that Colombia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have limited intelligence sharing with the United States.
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Nov 21, 2025 03:04 124