Troubling Leak Shows Spies Worried Over Trump’s Disrespect for Intel Agencies
In the past two and a half months, President Donald Trump has fired respected figures from important institutions and replaced them with loyalists, sometimes without real expertise, in key positions. For instance, the head of NSA (intercepting and cyber espionage) along with his deputy were dismissed, and the new director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is reportedly pro-Russian. The FBI’s chief, Kash Patel, leans towards extremist right-wing conspiracy movement QAnon.
Trump has never hidden his disdain for intelligence services since his first term. But recent attacks by him against anyone not adhering to his mantra are alarming experts in the field. “Politicking intelligence agencies is very problematic,” Dr. Christopher Nehring from Frankfurt’s Cyber Intelligence Institute warns, “they will only report what their political leaders want to hear.” Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer turned researcher at RUSI, adds that professionals are doing their jobs under “troubling and worrying circumstances” at the top, there is at least a serious incompetence.
The Signal scandal involving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth who accidentally included a journalist in an encrypted chat about imminent attacks against Yemen’s Houthi rebels is cited as evidence. Seeing the world’s greatest power descending into mediocrity shakes up the closed world of espionage, notes AFP. “Everyone is worried. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise,” says Christopher Nehring.
This crisis represents an incredible opportunity for Western adversaries, according to AFP, with Russian and Chinese intelligence services surely rubbing their hands in glee. A wave of former high-ranking officials fired from US agencies are exactly what they hoped for.
Meanwhile, this sudden fragility raises questions among the American allies. European intelligence chiefs confirm that all contacts at leadership level “continue unchanged” and Washington is stepping up messages of reassurance. But in recent weeks, discussions between European spy chiefs have increased to address pressing issues.
“Are we breaking our ‘third party rule’?” they ask. How far down the line should information be communicated? What about the future of the most sensitive files – Ukraine, Iran, China?
Michael Shurkin adds that this alliance, originally based on electromagnetic intelligence sharing, has grown through joint investments in capabilities and temporary personnel exchanges to a level nearly impossible to stop or untangle quickly. “It’s a remarkable free flow of information at a level that can’t work without immense trust,” he notes.
The Five Eyes (Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand) alliance is now facing tough questions with Israel reportedly furious over the Signal leak revealing sensitive info from an Israeli source in Yemen. Ukraine too should be cautious as Michael Shurkin suggests.
