Tulsi Gabbard Removes Over 100 Intel Officers for Explicit Chats

New Delhi, India – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Tuesday that more than 100 intelligence officers will be terminated and have their security clearances revoked. This action comes in response to allegations that these employees engaged in sexually explicit conversations within National Security Agency (NSA) internal chat rooms.

Gabbard spoke about the issue during an interview with Fox News, stating that the individuals involved came from various parts of the intelligence community and contributed to an “egregious violation of trust.” She emphasized that the behavior displayed in these chats was unacceptable.

“These individuals were brazen in using an NSA platform intended for professional use to conduct this kind of really horrific behavior,” Gabbard told reporter Jesse Waters.

The directive to terminate this group of officers was conveyed in a memo distributed among the intelligence agencies. Right-wing activist Christopher Rufo first highlighted the issue on social media, noting that the memo called for a thorough identification of the employees involved.

Gabbard confirmed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We know who they are. Action is underway.” Her spokesperson, Alexa Henning, clarified that the memo specifically targeted those who participated in what was described as “obscene, pornographic, and sexually explicit” chatrooms.

The chat conversations reportedly occurred on the Intelink platform, specifically in channels named “LBTQA” and “IC_Pride_TWG.” In a separate statement, the NSA acknowledged that it is aware of inappropriate discussions by intelligence personnel and stated that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Gabbard criticized the behavior displayed in the chats as a distraction from the core mission of U.S. intelligence agencies, which she identified as ensuring the safety and security of the American public. “Our IC must be focused on our core mission: ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people,” she said.

Earlier this month, Gabbard’s nomination was confirmed in a closely watched Senate vote of 52-48. It was marked by a divide largely along party lines, with only Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voting against her, citing her past comments regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and her support for whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The scandal surrounding the explicit chat messages was first reported by City Journal. Gabbard stated that the accountability measures initiated are just the beginning of efforts to restore trust in the institutions that serve the American people.