U.S. intelligence sharing disrupted during second Trump term

US intelligence sharing regarding Iran and other global threats has slowed or temporarily stopped in some instances during President Donald Trump's second term, according to a Reuters report citing eight current and former officials and people familiar with the matter.

Disruptions in Intelligence Assessments

The CIA has stopped jointly producing certain assessments with the National Intelligence Council (NIC), an ODNI body responsible for combining findings from the country's 18 intelligence agencies. While the CIA continues to share intelligence with the council and collaborate on some reports, its analysts have increasingly focused on producing their own assessments.

Two people familiar with the matter stated the council's overall production has slowed, and five current and former officials told Reuters that the council has produced no assessments focused on the war in Iran. "All of these things are adding up in a really complex world where policymakers need to have a more sophisticated, nuanced, and integrated view of the world, and they are getting less," former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner told Reuters.

Agency Disputes and Congressional Briefings

Reports indicate that tensions emerged between the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) during the tenure of former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. Three former officials told Reuters that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had to intervene several times to ease these tensions. According to sources, the dispute involved a decision by Gabbard's staff a year ago to strip several current and former CIA employees of their access to classified information.

Congressional oversight has also been affected. Lawmakers and congressional staff temporarily stopped receiving intelligence reports from Gabbard's office following the US military intervention in Iran in June 2025 and the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. Additionally, Gabbard's office reportedly halted congressional briefings on election threats in 2025, which resumed after Jay Clayton became director of national intelligence in August.

Allegations of Political Pressure

Reuters reported that some analysts have become reluctant to write assessments that contradict the White House's positions due to fears of political retaliation, according to current and former officials.

The CIA stated it continues to participate fully in established intelligence assessment processes, including the Presidential Daily Brief and work involving the National Intelligence Council. The ODNI disputed suggestions of a significant decline in the council's output, stating that assessment production has remained close to historical levels.

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Sources

• iranintl.com: US intelligence sharing on Iran and other threats disrupted under Trump - Reuters | Iran International
• 1news.az: U.S. intelligence agencies have reduced the sharing of intelligence with Congress under Trump | 1news.az

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.