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U.S. intelligence politicization concerns

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2026-08-12 07:44 UTC → 2026-08-12 12:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Former U.S. intelligence and national security officials have raised alarms regarding the politicization of intelligence agencies under the Trump administration. Initial reports highlighted concerns from former CIA analyst Julia Curlee, who alleged that the administration used intelligence gathering as a political tool by firing senior officers, revoking security clearances, and declassifying reports to support specific election-interference claims. This included pressure on the National Intelligence Council regarding assessments of threats in Venezuela. More than 400 former officials, organized as ‘The Steady State’, subsequently issued a formal warning to Congress. The group cautioned that the administration is following patterns used by autocrats to concentrate power and weaken democratic checks and balances. Specific concerns include the potential use of presidential authority against political critics and the reduction of personnel at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Recent reports reiterate these warnings from ‘The Steady State’, noting their continued alarm regarding the concentration of power and the potential weakening of democratic institutions.

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