Key facts
- The CIA has halted contributions to some intelligence assessments, including those related to the Iran war.
- Disputes over intelligence sharing and areas of responsibility are the cause of the halt.
- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is involved in the dispute.
- The infighting has disrupted national security analyses relied upon by presidents.
- The CIA contends that the Director's Initiatives Group has circumvented traditional intelligence-sharing protocols.
- ODNI officials state the CIA has blocked the group's access to intelligence.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has stopped contributing to certain intelligence assessments, including those related to the Iran war, due to disputes with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) over intelligence sharing and areas of responsibility. This infighting, which has reportedly been ongoing for over a year, has disrupted the production of national security analyses crucial for presidential decision-making. At the core of the disagreements is a task force established in April 2025 by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The CIA, led by Director John Ratcliffe, contends that Gabbard's Director's Initiatives Group has circumvented traditional intelligence-sharing and declassification protocols, while ODNI officials state the CIA has blocked the group's access to intelligence. This breakdown in collaboration occurs during a critical period for the Trump administration, with the U.S. involved in the Iran conflict and facing other national security challenges. The situation suggests that post-September 11 reforms aimed at coordinating intelligence agencies have not eliminated dysfunction. ODNI spokeswoman Olivia Coleman stated that the president and policymakers continue to receive the best intelligence and analysis, and that the Director's Initiatives Group operated within ODNI's authorities. CIA Director of Public Affairs Liz Lyons highlighted the CIA's aggressive approach to advancing President Trump's priorities. White House spokesman Davis Ingle expressed confidence in the national security team and dismissed media efforts to sow division. The CIA's reduced contributions to assessments produced by Gabbard's office, particularly those concerning Iran, represent a significant consequence of the mutual distrust. The CIA has historically been a major contributor to reports from the National Intelligence Council (NIC). The interagency friction began shortly after Gabbard assumed her post in February 2025, with initial assertions of tighter control over the Presidential Daily Brief, a role the CIA long led. The creation of the Director's Initiatives Group, intended to address alleged politicization of the intelligence community, further strained relations. Critics suggest this group was used to target political opponents. In May 2025, Gabbard ousted two senior CIA officers who led the NIC, with an intelligence official citing a toxic work environment as the reason.