In a recent appearance on Fox News, U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard expressed her concerns about the state of the CIA, describing it as "worse" than she had anticipated.
Gabbard, who was confirmed to her position on February 12, shared her insights during an interview on 'The Ingraham Angle,' where host Laura Ingraham inquired about the level of dysfunction within the intelligence community.
According to the Daily Caller, Gabbard's remarks come in the wake of reports that the CIA had offered financial incentives to its workforce, a move interpreted by Trump administration officials as an attempt to encourage those opposed to President Donald Trump's policies to seek employment elsewhere.
When asked to rate the "swampiness" of the intelligence community on a scale of one to ten, Gabbard responded, "I knew it was bad coming in. Its worse than I thought in a lot of different ways." She emphasized the need to address the "weaponization" and "politicization" within the intelligence community, which she believes are hindering the delivery of unbiased and accurate intelligence to policymakers.
Gabbard also criticized the Biden administration for its handling of national security, particularly in relation to the release of individuals with ties to terrorist organizations. She stated, "This example that we just talked about, where the Biden administration released these known or suspected terrorists or those with links to ISIS terrorists back into our country, you look at the dereliction of duty of that." She argued that the administration's fear of being labeled as Islamophobic led to decisions that compromised national security.
The House Judiciary Committee's August 2024 report highlighted the gravity of the situation, revealing that between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, Border Patrol agents encountered over 250 illegal migrants on the terrorist watchlist at the southern border. Alarmingly, the Department of Homeland Security subsequently released an estimated 99 of these individuals back into the United States. Gabbard pointed to these incidents as evidence of the politicization she seeks to eliminate, stating, "But weve also seen with the pro-Hamas rallies on streets across the country and the riots."
Since taking office, Gabbard has reportedly overseen the dismissal of several employees from the Biden era, as reported by The New York Times. This move aligns with President Trump's ongoing efforts to reduce government spending, which has led to the termination of a group of "probationary employees."
Gabbard's focus remains on redirecting resources to ensure the safety of the American people and addressing threats to national security. Her tenure as National Intelligence Director marks a significant shift in the approach to intelligence and security, reflecting a commitment to conservative principles of governance and accountability.
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