Overview

• The Office of the Director of National Intelligence publicly revoked security clearances for 37 current and former officials, which a DNI spokesperson said was directed to prevent politicization and carried out on President Donald Trump’s orders.
• Multiple reports say the CIA was blindsided by the posting and was not told it would be made public, though Gabbard’s allies claim staff-level coordination and prior notification to agencies.
• One listed individual was described in reporting as a senior CIA Russia specialist operating under cover, a characterization disputed by a person close to Gabbard who notes her prior public affiliation as officers can rotate in and out of covered roles.
• The officer had recently helped brief Trump’s team before his meeting with Vladimir Putin and was slated for an overseas posting, and former officials note that losing a clearance effectively ends an intelligence career.
• Experts warned of risks to CIA tradecraft and foreign relationships, and an attorney raised potential Privacy Act concerns, as public criticism mounted with calls for Gabbard’s firing or resignation.