National Security Leaders for America WarnS Against the Politicization of U.S. Intelligence
August 23, 2025
Washington, DC, August 23, 2025 — National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) is deeply concerned by the sudden firing of Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Announced without explanation, this dismissal is the latest in a disturbing trend of political interference in the U.S. intelligence community.
This follows the recent removal of General Timothy Haugh as Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), as well as the abrupt dismissal of the acting chair and vice chair of the National Intelligence Council, whose members provide strategic, long-term analysis to policymakers. These actions, along with reports of pressure on analysts to alter or downplay assessments of foreign threats, reflect a concerted effort to bend intelligence to fit political preferences.
“The intelligence community exists to provide policymakers with the best possible understanding of threats facing our nation, not to serve political agendas. It is the duty of the Director to give military leaders and the Administration cold hard facts. General Haugh followed his duty - not politics.” said James McIlmail, NSL4A member and former Executive Director for Operations at DIA.
The former head of the National Intelligence Council, Gregory Treverton, noted that “Firing the DIA Director without cause—and sidelining other senior intelligence leaders—undermines trust across the intelligence community, weakens military readiness, and sends a chilling signal to career professionals: tell the truth at your own risk.”
NSL4A calls on Congress to investigate these dismissals and to act decisively to protect the independence of America’s intelligence institutions. When professional intelligence is politicized or silenced, history shows that U.S. security suffers—and the men and women in uniform who rely on accurate intelligence to defend the nation are put in greater danger.
National Security Leaders for America members are available for interviews on this issue.
