Trump's efficiency drive sparks fear of intelligence purges
The Trump administration plans to reduce staffing and funding in federal agencies, raising concerns among former and current intelligence employees, Bloomberg reported. Elon Musk's team from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has so far addressed changes in the Department of the Treasury and USAID.
The Donald Trump administration continues to change personnel in the state apparatus, but the goal is also to streamline it. This is argued to be due to waste of finances in federal agencies. DOGE, led by Musk, has already begun actions in the Department of the Treasury and the USAID agency, resulting in, among other things, cutting American funding for foreign organizations.
USA concerns about purges in intelligence
According to Bloomberg, there are concerns that similar purges may also affect American intelligence. So far, such actions related to changes in power have bypassed intelligence agencies like the CIA and NSA (National Security Agency - electronic intelligence).
Former CIA officer Paul Pillar points out that it may only be a matter of time before the mentioned institutions are also brought under control. Trump has long criticized intelligence for alleged political abuses.
Trump's relations with intelligence agencies deteriorated during his first term. Intelligence confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 American elections in his favour. Trump and his supporters dismissed these findings as a Russian "hoax."
CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed voluntary departures for agency employees, which is officially intended to help focus on the current priority, which is considered to be China. Meanwhile, Michael Ellis, a Trump ally, was appointed his deputy, which may influence further changes in the agency.
Emily Harding, director at the American Center for Strategic Studies, said she was "very, very concerned" about the prospect of purges in intelligence, especially concerning officers who present conclusions that may not be welcome by the president. "If there is a sentiment inside the intelligence community that hard-hitting independent analysis is not welcome, then it’s going to have a chilling effect," Harding told Bloomberg.
