Trump administration revokes security clearance for 37 officials
The Trump administration has revoked security clearances for its 37 intelligence reporting agencies, escalating efforts against the national security community.
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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration fired the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in the latest in a series of moves to purge the US intelligence reporting community and place Trump loyalists at the top position.
Kruse’s departure cited an unknown source that was first reported by the Washington Post and not immediately identification Reasons for dismissal other than “loss of trust.” The Post later reported that two other military leaders had been pushed out after Kruse. Vice-Chairman Nancy Lacoa, head of the Naval Reserve, and Vice-General Milton Sands, the Navy Seal Officer who oversaw Naval Special Warfare Command.
The Kruze fires, following a preliminary assessment from the DIA in June, concluded that US military attacks on three major Iranian nuclear sites did not destroy them as President Trump had claimed, but only set up an Iranian nuclear program for several months. It urged the strong push back from the Trump administration and subsequent intelligence information findings by the Department of Defense and the CIA to urge that damage was more important.
“Based on everything we saw and I’ve seen it all – our bombing campaign has wiped out Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons,” said Defence Secretary Pete Hegses.
Mark Warner, D-Va, vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“The firing of yet another senior national security officer highlights the Trump administration’s dangerous practice of treating Intelligence News as a loyalty test, rather than a country’s safeguard,” Warner said in a statement. “General Kruze is a career military officer who has been in prominent nonpartisan service for decades to our country, making this expulsion even more troublesome.”
“It is probably not surprising that General Kruze’s removal as head of the Defense Intelligence Reports will come soon after a DIA assessment that directly contradicts the president’s claim to “eliminate” Iran’s nuclear program,” Warner said. “This honest, fact-based analysis, whether flattens the White House narrative or not, is something that should be desired by the intelligence reporting agency. When expertise is placed aside and intelligence is distorted or silent, the enemy is less secure.”
Rep. Jim Himez, a ranking Democrat for the House Intelligence Election Committee, said in a statement that he appreciated General Kruze for decades of service and a strong history of non-political involvement with the Intelligence Election Committee.
“If there is a reason for the administration to fire Coach Kruze, they must provide that information to Congress immediately,” added Himes. “If not, we could assume that this is another politically motivated decision aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear, which cools the intelligence reporting community’s ability to do its job and protect national security.”
