US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced a major overhaul of the intelligence community. She plans to cut more than 40% of the agency’s payroll by the end of 2025. The move is expected to save the US government around $700 million.
In a public statement and social media posts, Gabbard described the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as “bloated” and “inefficient.” She also claimed the agency has been misused for political purposes and has lost focus on its core mission.
The changes are part of what she calls the “ODNI 2.0” plan. This initiative aims to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate political bias, and restore accountability within the intelligence system.
A fact sheet released by her office details several changes. These include cuts to programs focused on cyber threats, biosecurity, and weapons monitoring. Intelligence forecasting will also face reductions.
Two major departments came under direct criticism. The Strategic Futures Group was accused of pushing political narratives. The Foreign Malign Influence Center was said to be used by the Biden administration to censor political rivals.
Since taking office, Gabbard has already cut nearly 30% of the ODNI workforce. This includes over 500 job eliminations. Recently, she also revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former officials. Most were involved in intelligence related to Russia and election security.
Critics argue that these actions could weaken the US response to foreign threats. They also point to previous investigations confirming Russian interference in US elections. Gabbard’s past comments and foreign policy views have added to the controversy.
These reforms follow a wider effort to shrink the federal government, a goal supported by former President Donald Trump. Similar budget cuts have already impacted US foreign aid and other agencies.
The coming months will reveal how these changes affect the US intelligence community’s ability to handle global risks.
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