In a mounting struggle within the ranks of loyalists to former President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel is opposing efforts to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as the counter-intelligence czar of the administration. This latest clash marks a significant moment in their ongoing power struggle.
In a recent letter to Congress, the FBI expressed strong opposition to efforts aimed at elevating Gabbard, who currently serves as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), to a position overseeing all counter-intelligence operations for the federal government. The New York Times reported that the unsigned letter, while lacking a direct signature, was likely sent with Patel’s explicit approval.
Counter-intelligence encompasses efforts to thwart foreign espionage within the U.S. government, particularly across military and intelligence agencies. The FBI has historically been the leading agency in these operations. Therefore, the proposed bill, known as the Intelligence Authorization Act, is seen as a threat to the FBI’s established authority.
The proposed legislation seeks to enhance Gabbard’s role, transitioning her from limited oversight to full control over counter-intelligence activities. This change would substantially diminish the FBI’s influence within the intelligence community, a move Patel has strongly objected to. According to officials, granting Gabbard such authority raises concerns about national security.
In a particularly outspoken manner, the FBI articulated its “vigorous disagreement” with the proposal, warning it could inflict “serious and long-lasting damage to US national security.” The agency also addressed discrepancies within a draft letter from the Office of the DNI, which asserted that there was consensus among intelligence agencies regarding the bill, highlighting the FBI’s dissent as a challenge to that claim.
Gabbard’s tenure as DNI has been fraught with contention, primarily due to her longstanding connections to Russia and its allies, including Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. These connections have raised alarms among European allies, leading to distrust towards the United States in matters of intelligence sharing. Concerns within the British intelligence community have reportedly become so critical that some agents working in Russia and Ukraine were extracted as a safety measure, reflecting the serious implications of Gabbard’s ties.
This situation illustrates the rifts and tensions within the Trump administration regarding national security operations and personnel appointments. As the debates unfold, both Patel’s and Gabbard’s futures in their respective roles may be at stake, impacting the broader landscape of U.S. intelligence operations.