White House Unaware of CIA Clearances Rescinded by Gabbard

Washington, D.C. — The White House learned only after the fact that security clearances for several CIA officials were rescinded last month by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. This unexpected move drew frustration from senior officials in the Trump administration, who were not informed prior to the action.

According to three sources familiar with the situation, Gabbard’s decision impacted top deputies to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, including a key advisor who had participated in sensitive military operations. The rescinded clearances also included two Democratic congressional staffers.

These changes raised concerns within the White House, as there was no opportunity to review the list of officials affected and no documentation indicating presidential authorization for the actions. Some Trump advisers worry this incident may complicate relations between the administration and intelligence agencies at a time when Trump has been openly critical of the intelligence community.

In response to inquiries, a senior intelligence official claimed Gabbard did inform Trump about compiling the list during a meeting in the Oval Office. The official stated, “Gabbard was executing the president’s agenda.” However, some aides expressed dissatisfaction regarding the lack of details provided about the list’s creation.

The White House released a statement praising Gabbard’s performance and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing issues regarding the use of intelligence clearances for political purposes, claiming it is essential to uphold the integrity of intelligence assessments.

Gabbard has maintained that her actions were sanctioned by Trump and were necessary to address what she described as politicization of intelligence. She emphasized that having a security clearance is a privilege that carries significant responsibility.

Despite the backlash, it appears that Gabbard is unlikely to face significant consequences for her actions. She previously navigated challenges without substantial repercussions, even after publicly clashing with Trump over his views on Iran.