Internal conflicts within the US intelligence community.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) are embroiled in a serious internal dispute that could affect the national security analysis process, which is crucial for the Trump administration to shape its defense strategy and address foreign policy challenges.

Senior U.S. security and intelligence officials testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Photo: Reuters

A dispute lasting over a year between the CIA and ODNI over the scope of authority, how to share data, and allegations of politicizing the work is disrupting security analysis.

As one of the main contributors to reports compiled by the National Intelligence Council, the CIA has ceased participating in some assessments by the top intelligence analysis agency managed by the ODNI, including reports related to the Iran war. Last year, the CIA even temporarily stopped publishing National Intelligence Council reports on internal channels within the intelligence community it controls.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is an independent agency established in 2004, tasked with assisting the Director of National Intelligence in leading the intelligence community of 18 closely coordinated agencies to gather information, protect national security, and support U.S. foreign policy. However, sources reveal that the CIA and the ODNI are operating as two separate analytical agencies.

The breakdown of the partnership occurred at a critical time when the U.S. faced a series of national security challenges, from the Iran conflict and Russia's war in Ukraine to China's military and economic expansion. This also demonstrates that the major reforms and restructuring implemented by the U.S. after September 11, 2001, failed to address the core systemic problems.

Weakening intelligence coordination

Some sources indicate that the current conflict between the agencies began in February 2025 when Tulsi Gabbard took over leadership of the ODNI and tightened control over the compilation of the President's Daily Brief. The relationship deteriorated after Gabbard's decision to establish the Director's Initiative Group to assess the structure and human resources, promote the declassification of documents, and investigate abuses of power and allegations of politicization within the intelligence community.

However, the CIA, under Director John Ratcliffe, argued that the Director's ODNI initiative went against traditional security and information-sharing protocols. The conflict escalated when Gabbard fired two CIA officers who held high-ranking positions on the National Intelligence Council. The ODNI leader subsequently revealed the identity of a CIA officer operating covertly abroad; simultaneously, she revoked access to classified information from 37 current officials and withdrew the security clearances of several former officials, accusing them of politicizing and leaking intelligence.

Last month, tensions between the two sides were exposed to the public when a CIA officer working on the Director's Initiative Group testified before the Senate that the agency and intelligence community leaders had prevented the group from accessing information about the origins of COVID-19. This sparked a major controversy among U.S. intelligence agencies, leading to an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community and congressional hearings.

Amid reports of internal unrest, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle affirmed President Trump's complete confidence in the nation's outstanding security team. He stated that media attempts to sow discord would fail.

On June 2nd, US President Donald Trump appointed Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as Acting Director of National Intelligence. This decision sparked considerable controversy, as Pulte (38 years old) has absolutely no experience in national security and still holds positions at the helm of two housing finance giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

MAI QUYEN (According to Reuters, MSN News)

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/noi-bo-tinh-bao-my-luc-duc-a206269.html