CIA Retracts DEI-Influenced Intelligence Evaluations
WASHINGTON — The CIA has pulled back more than a dozen intelligence evaluations that incorporated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) perspectives over the last decade. Among these was one report suggesting that promoting traditional motherhood could radicalize white women.
A senior official mentioned that CIA Director John Ratcliffe rescinded 19 documents due to their failure to meet the agency’s standards for objectivity. Of these, 17 were retracted entirely, while two are undergoing corrections.
Only three politically motivated assessments tied to DEI were released, spanning the Biden, Trump, and Obama administrations.
One assessment from October 6, 2021, titled “Women Advancing Whiteness, Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Radicalization and Recruitment,” was criticized for focusing on “foreign political debates about gender roles” instead of addressing the actual risks of political violence, according to a senior CIA officer.
In this report, Canadian YouTuber Lauren Southern was characterized as a white racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist, alongside discussions of the perceived threat posed by women embracing traditional motherhood roles.
Another CIA report from July 8, 2020, noted interruptions in family planning and condom distribution globally, citing what officials called “non-objective sources,” like Planned Parenthood.
Another document from January 14, 2015, encouraged the CIA to engage in “political discussions about LGBT issues” with foreign governments, mentioning established activist organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign.
The document stated that the tough stance taken by various Middle Eastern and North African governments towards LGBT communities—possibly due to conservative public opinion and political competition with Islamist groups—was hindering U.S. efforts to advocate for LGBT rights.
The President’s Council of Advisors on Intelligence reviewed over 300 analyses overall.
According to a CIA official, previous administrations had inappropriately infused DEI and other similar issues into the agency’s operations, which undermined its mission to provide unbiased intelligence on national security matters.
These documents, it was emphasized, fell short of the CIA’s high standards for impartiality and insight and represented a misuse of resources. This audit fulfilled a commitment Ratcliffe made during his Senate confirmation hearing to eliminate “political or personal bias” in hopes of making the agency a true meritocracy.
In a message directed at CIA officers, Ratcliffe stated, “If all this aligns with what you signed up for, prepare for change. If not, you might want to consider a different career path.”
Following these decisions, efforts were initiated to cut the workforce by 1,200 employees.
When asked whether failures in intelligence assessments had resulted in any demotions or firings, the official responded that a mechanism had been established to tackle these issues and clarified the expectations for all executives responsible for analysis.
It was also noted that given the timeline spanning ten years, some authors of the retracted reports might no longer be with the CIA.
