Overview

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has fired Mike Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof, the top two officials at the National Intelligence Council, citing alleged politicization of intelligence.
• The firings occurred shortly after the release of a NIC memo that contradicted the Trump administration's claims linking Venezuela's government to the Tren de Aragua gang.
• Gabbard has moved the National Intelligence Council from the CIA to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to increase oversight and control.
• Her office has referred three intelligence professionals to the Department of Justice for alleged unauthorized leaks of classified information, with additional investigations ongoing.
• Democratic lawmakers have criticized the firings as politically motivated and demanded evidence to justify the dismissals of the career intelligence officials.