Tulsi Gabbard has fired two top intelligence officials after they contradicted claims about Venezuelan gang ties, escalating internal rifts over politicized intel.
At a Glance
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard dismissed NIC leaders Mike Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof
- The move followed an assessment that clashed with Trump-era claims on Venezuela
- Gabbard also relocated the NIC from CIA to ODNI headquarters
- Both officials had decades-long careers in intelligence
- The shakeup signals deeper tensions over intelligence “weaponization”
Intelligence Shakeup and Strategic Realignment
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, has triggered a seismic shift within the intelligence community by removing two senior leaders from the National Intelligence Council (NIC). Acting Chairman Mike Collins and Deputy Maria Langan-Riekhof were both dismissed after issuing an assessment that pushed back against claims advanced by the Trump administration regarding the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The NIC’s latest report stated that while Venezuelan authorities may tolerate the gang’s operations, it found no definitive evidence that the Maduro regime was actively directing or facilitating the group’s activities in the United States. This finding directly contradicted public statements made under the previous administration, which alleged state-level coordination with the gang. Gabbard’s move underscores an apparent bid to reassert control and increase the politicization of intelligence.
Watch a report: Tulsi Gabbard Fires NIC Leadership Over Intel Dispute.
In addition to the firings, Gabbard ordered the NIC’s relocation from its long-held base at CIA headquarters to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), a symbolic and operational repositioning that reflects her emphasis on central oversight and structural reform.
Profiles of Fired Analysts
Mike Collins, a veteran of nearly three decades in the intelligence arena, was known for his connection to former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell and his strategic approach to geopolitical threats. Maria Langan-Riekhof, hailed as one of ODNI’s “Exceptional Analysts,” served across administrations and was elevated during the Trump presidency. Her firing, despite a widely respected track record, has further fueled debate about whether political realignment is driving the intelligence agenda.
Observers such as J. Michael Waller have framed the firings as part of a broader conflict over how intelligence is shaped and presented, especially when it contradicts politically convenient narratives. For Gabbard, the decision reflects a push to enforce discipline and prevent leaks, positioning her tenure as one focused on transparency and accountability—albeit one that risks deepening internal division.
Reactions and Ramifications
Gabbard’s assertive steps may signal a turning point in how U.S. intelligence operates. Her critics argue that dismissing analysts for inconvenient conclusions undermines analytic independence and leads to outcomes like the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Supporters counter that she is rooting out politicized bias and restoring objectivity. The long-term consequence may hinge on whether the intelligence community can maintain credibility while under increasing pressure from both partisan and public forces.
As geopolitical tensions mount and domestic political polarization deepens, the question now is whether Gabbard’s restructuring will strengthen national security—or fracture the fragile trust that holds the intelligence ecosystem together.
