Security Clearances Revoked for Intelligence Experts Amid Controversy
WASHINGTON – Recently, 37 intelligence experts had their security clearances revoked by the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Sources claim one of these individuals could have inadvertently revealed her undercover status. Some major publications like the Atlantic reported on this four months ago in a public forum.
According to a source, the now-removed analyst was “working undercover” when her clearance was lifted. However, others argue that she wasn’t really a secret agent, pointing out her role as a former analyst at the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
One source familiar with her career noted that she held a position at her desk without any covert implications. The former national information director at NIC and the previous Eurasia information director are affiliated with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
As of April, this intelligence expert was working as a Senior Executive Manager at the CIA’s European and Eurasian Mission Centre and participated in the Spring 2025 Intelligence Symposium hosted by AEFCA, a body comprising national security professionals, military personnel, and government officials.
Between then and August 18, she seemingly withdrew from public life right around the time Gabbard sent out an internal notice concerning the 37 individuals who would have their security clearances canceled.
A well-informed source suggests that the timing of these actions was no accident.
Emails from August 18 and 19 revealed that high-ranking CIA and ODNI officials avoided discussing the classified or overt statuses of the 37 experts affected.
There was coordination at the staff level between the ODNI and the CIA before the withdrawal letter was sent, involving various other agencies, an official stated.
Several of these intelligence experts had participated in assessing the Obama administration’s orders that led to allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
A CIA spokesperson, Liz Lyons, emphasized that “Coach Ratcliffe and the entire president’s elite national security team are dedicated to eradicating politicization within intelligence reports,” focusing on executing national security priorities and ensuring public safety.
Gabbard’s memo identifies affiliations of more than three dozen intelligence professionals but accuses them of “abusing public trust through politicization and manipulation.” Many had a role in the sensitive assessment detailing Russia’s influence during the 2016 election, completed in the Obama era. Others had signed a statement supporting House Democrats’ investigations into Trump’s activities.
The revoked clearance individual previously served as the national information director specializing in Russia and Eurasia from 2014 to 2017. Her prior writings in foreign affairs from 2018 have also been noted.
Following the Obama administration, she became a non-resident scholar in Carnegie’s International Peace Fund, focusing on Russian and Eurasian matters.
Attempts to reach CIA personnel regarding this situation were unsuccessful.
