In a decisive and uncompromising move, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has referred two intelligence officials for criminal prosecution over alleged classified information leaks—a stark warning that the era of politicized intelligence is being challenged from within.
The referrals mark the most significant internal crackdown on the intelligence community in years, signaling that Gabbard is not merely overseeing the ODNI, but aiming to fundamentally reform it.
The leaks in question reportedly involved classified material shared with The Washington Post and The New York Times. While the exact content of the leaks has not yet been disclosed, the implications are severe. These weren’t mere breaches of protocol—they were framed by Gabbard as politically motivated sabotage targeting the Trump administration’s policies and national security priorities.
“This is not about whistleblowing,” Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “This is about deep-state criminals using classified information as a political weapon.”
In her statement, Gabbard made it clear that the process to hold these individuals accountable has already begun. Following an internal review by ODNI, the cases were sent to the Department of Justice, which in turn will hand them over to the FBI for full criminal investigation. A third referral is expected shortly.
Since taking the reins as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard has wasted no time reshaping the culture of the intelligence community. Her newly launched Director’s Initiative Group (DIG) is designed to root out systemic politicization, dismantle unauthorized disclosure networks, and restore public trust in national security institutions.
DIG’s mission goes beyond policing leaks. It includes declassifying materials in the public interest, holding rogue actors accountable, and reestablishing strict boundaries between intelligence work and political agendas. The task force has already made waves, not just with criminal referrals, but with disciplinary actions against employees involved in inappropriate conduct, including reportedly sexually explicit activity in NSA-operated chatrooms.
Gabbard’s approach contrasts sharply with the traditional, behind-the-scenes style of past ODNI directors. Her public statements, direct referrals, and refusal to tolerate internal sabotage represent a tectonic shift in how intelligence community culture is policed—and publicly communicated.
Her message is unequivocal: leakers will be found, and they will be prosecuted. In a field where leaks often go unpunished and internal discipline can take years, this is a shot across the bow. It signals that under Gabbard’s leadership, the intelligence apparatus will no longer serve as a leaking sieve for partisan narratives.
