CIA-ODNI feud slows intelligence sharing on Iran and global threats

Intelligence sharing between the CIA and other agencies has slowed during the Trump administration, according to officials. This has led to temporary halts in some exchanges and concerns about incomplete threat assessments.

The dispute between the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) began during Tulsi Gabbard's tenure as director of national intelligence. Her office revoked security clearances for some officials, leading to tensions that affected intelligence coordination.

The CIA has stopped jointly preparing assessments with the National Intelligence Council (NIC), an analytical body within the ODNI. This has reduced the number of reports that combine views from different intelligence agencies for policymakers.

Lawmakers and their staff briefly stopped receiving intelligence reports from Gabbard's office following the US military intervention in Iran in June 2025 and after the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. Gabbard's team accused lawmakers of leaking information to the press.

The intelligence community has faced staff and resource cuts under the Trump administration, exacerbating existing tensions. The ODNI was created after the September 11 attacks to improve coordination, but the current rift has raised concerns about the effectiveness of intelligence sharing.

Analysts warn that political pressure is making it harder for intelligence officials to provide assessments that contradict the White House's position. This has led to a more fragmented approach to understanding global threats, according to former officials.