US INTELLIGENCE-SHARING SYSTEM FACES DEEPENING RIFTS UNDER TRUMP AS CIA AND FEDERAL AGENCIES SCALE BACK COOPERATION
November 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, November 3, 2026: Intelligence-sharing across the United States government has slowed and, in some instances, temporarily stopped during President Donald Trump’s second term, raising concerns among former officials that policymakers may be receiving an incomplete picture of international security threats.
According to officials cited in a Reuters report, the disruptions have affected the sharing of intelligence on Iran and other global threats with Congress and across federal agencies. The problems emerged amid tensions between the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), particularly during the tenure of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
The CIA has reportedly stopped co-authoring assessments with the National Intelligence Council (NIC), an analytical body within the ODNI that brings together assessments from the country’s 18 intelligence agencies. The move has reduced the production of integrated reports used by government officials and lawmakers to evaluate international developments, including the situation involving Iran.
The disruption also affected congressional access to intelligence reports. Lawmakers and their staff briefly stopped receiving reports from Gabbard’s office following the US military intervention in Iran in June 2025 and the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. Gabbard’s team had accused lawmakers of leaking information to the media.
The disagreements reportedly intensified after the Trump administration introduced significant cuts to national security agencies and removed or sidelined officials considered disloyal. Some intelligence analysts have allegedly become cautious about producing assessments that contradict the White House’s positions, fearing possible political retaliation.
The dispute between the CIA and ODNI was described by officials as one of the most significant institutional turf battles in three decades. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly intervened several times to ease tensions between the agencies. The CIA’s reduced participation has also affected the National Intelligence Council, which previously relied heavily on the agency's expertise on subjects such as Iran and Russia.
However, the ODNI has disputed suggestions that its assessment output has substantially declined, saying production levels remain close to historical trends. The CIA, meanwhile, stated that it continues to participate fully in intelligence assessments through the Presidential Daily Brief and the National Intelligence Council.
The tensions have also raised concerns about coordination between other federal agencies. The FBI reportedly stopped sharing certain intelligence with the National Counterterrorism Center for several weeks after disagreements over an investigation into the shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. FBI officials believed that the centre was exceeding its authority.
Congressional briefings on election-related threats were also suspended during Gabbard’s tenure in 2025. Those briefings have since resumed under Jay Clayton, who became Director of National Intelligence in August 2026.
Former intelligence officials have warned that weakened coordination could undermine the government's ability to assess complex security challenges. Some are now working on bipartisan proposals to rebuild intelligence cooperation in the next administration, amid concerns that fragmented information-sharing could leave national security decision-makers without a sufficiently comprehensive understanding of emerging threats.
