Hegseth Fires DIA Head Challenging Iran Strike Effectiveness

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, following the agency's initial assessment that U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities only set back the program by a few months, a conclusion that angered President Donald Trump. The Trump administration rejected this preliminary report, labeling it "flat-out wrong," and subsequently released new intelligence through CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claiming the setback was actually years. Hegseth defended the strikes as a "historically successful attack" and criticized media focus on the intelligence findings without providing direct evidence of destruction. Kruse’s dismissal is part of a broader reshuffle in the intelligence community and military leadership, including early retirement announcements and budget cuts. Critics, including Senator Mark Warner, have noted the firing amidst concerns about politicization of intelligence assessments. This move continues a pattern of the Trump administration removing officials whose analyses conflict with the president's public statements.