Tulsi Gabbard cancels security permits for 37 US staff for intelligence

President Donald Trump’s administration has canceled security permits to 37 current and former US officials, accusing them of politicizing intelligence for a guerrilla or personal benefit.

In a note published on social media, national intelligence director Tulsi Gabard directed several leaders of the National Security Agency to immediately undress the employees of their permits, stating that the move was ordered by the president.

Officials include several national security assistants who have served former Democrats chairmen Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

Gabard did not offer evidence to support the allegations in the note.

Security provisions provide access to sensitive government information, and some former employees detain them to advise heirs. Some private sector jobs such as defense and aerospace space may require access to security permits as a prerequisite for employment.

It is unclear whether all 37 people listed in the note have still held active clearance.

Gabard said Trump had ordered the withdrawals as employees “abused public confidence by politicizing and manipping intelligence, leaking classified intelligence without permission, and or committing deliberate outrageous violations of commercial operations.”

“Being entrusted with security permission is a privilege, not a right,” writes Gabard of X. “Those in the intelligence community who convey their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests before the interests of the American people have violated the sacred confidence they have promised to maintain.”

The note did not charge specific persons.

This is not the first time the Trump administration has canceled security authorities for intelligence staff.

Earlier, the administration did the same for Biden, its deputy chairman Kamala Harris and the former legislators participating in investigations into the U.S. Capitol rebellion four years ago.

In recent weeks, Gabard has led the charge against intelligence staff from the Obama era, who have concluded that Russia has intervened in the 2016 election that Trump won.

Trump and Gabard have identified the intelligence evaluation as a “conservation conspiracy” to undermine the success of the president’s election.

Democrats rejected moves as political distraction and accused the White House of diverting attention from unpopular policies and Trump’s alleged ties with convicted sexual criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

“These bizarre statements are a ridiculous and weak attempt to distract,” said Obama spokesman last month.

Gabard also announced on Wednesday that the National Intelligence Director’s Office (Odni), a key independent agency that supports DNI – will reduce its workforce by 40% and reduce its $ 700 million annual budget.

In a statement, she said the agency has become “inflated and ineffective” for the last two decades and has been “full of abuse of power.”

According to her, the intelligence community must make “serious changes” in order to fulfill its obligation and “provide objective, impartial, timely intelligence”.