Tulsi Gabbard, the 44-year-old Director of National Intelligence, has taken decisive action against two individuals she accuses of leaking classified information to the press. It’s this kind of decisive action that Gabbard has taken in referring these cases to the Justice Department. This latest step is indicative of the Trump administration’s ongoing war on unauthorized disclosures.
Gabbard’s allegations center on two specific leaks. At least one person is said to have leaked sensitive documents to the Washington Post. At the same time, another individual is being charged for leaking sensitive information to the New York Times. These actions have already deeply seeded concerns over national security and the integrity of classified information.
In her public statement, Gabbard discussed the need to protect sensitive information from ill-intentioned actors and prevent it from being spread. “Leaks of classified material not only jeopardize national security but undermine the trust placed in our intelligence community,” she asserted. Her referrals represent the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to stem leaks across federal agencies.
For its part, the Director of National Intelligence hinted strongly that the investigations will not stop with just these two men. Gabbard suggested a third person could be subject to such referral actions when she wrote, “with 3rd on its way.” This seemingly innocuous statement implies that the administration is broadening its scope and going further to seek to punish those guilty of leaking unauthorized information.
The implications of these referrals are far-reaching. Instead, she pushes blaming the leakers of classified information. This strategy will both deter future violations and add a layer of new positive security to the sensitive data the government protects.
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