WASHINGTON: US intelligence sharing on Iran and other global threats has slowed or temporarily stopped in some cases under President Donald Trump, eight current and former officials and informed sources told Reuters.
The disruptions affected reports for Congress and coordination among federal agencies. Problems emerged during staffing cuts and disputes between the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
At the centre of the dispute was the National Intelligence Council (NIC), which combines findings from 18 US intelligence agencies. CIA analysts stopped jointly producing some council assessments but continued to share information and collaborate on selected reports.
Five current and former officials said the council had produced no assessments focused on the Iran war. Two people familiar with its work described a broader slowdown.
The CIA said it continued participating in intelligence assessments, including the Presidential Daily Brief. ODNI disputed claims of a sharp decline in council output, saying production remained close to historical levels. Congress also experienced temporary intelligence gaps.
Lawmakers stopped receiving some reports after US military intervention in Iran in June 2025. Another interruption followed the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, according to two people familiar with the matter.
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Three former officials said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles repeatedly intervened in disputes during Tulsi Gabbard’s tenure as intelligence chief.
Relations improved after Gabbard resigned in June, although some problems persisted. Officials also described analysts’ reluctance to produce findings contradicting White House positions because they feared political retaliation.
Jay Clayton, who became director of national intelligence in August, resumed congressional briefings on election threats after they were suspended in 2025.
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Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner warned that policymakers needed more comprehensive assessments of global threats, but “they are getting less.”
The administration was considering whether to resume military strikes on Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Former intelligence officials were also developing bipartisan proposals at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution to improve coordination under a future administration.
With input from Iran International
