Trump Administration Removes 37 Senior US Intelligence Officials Including Top CIA Russia Analyst

The Trump administration has escalated its purge of senior U.S. intelligence officials by revoking the security clearances of 37 current and former personnel, including a top CIA officer who oversaw Russia analysis and the 2016 report on Kremlin interference favoring Trump. This senior officer, with over 20 years in intelligence and leadership over operations related to Russia and the post-Soviet space, was dismissed alongside other prominent figures such as Shelby Pierson and Vinh Nguyen. The move, confirmed by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, has caused alarm within the intelligence community, with experts warning that losing clearance effectively ends careers and deters analysts from speaking truth to power. This purge is viewed as part of a broader campaign by President Trump to punish officials and reshape intelligence assessments that challenge his narratives, including efforts to influence reports on criminal groups and Iranian nuclear facilities. Former CIA officer Larry Pfeiffer, also cleared, highlighted the severe personal and professional consequences of such revocations. The campaign reflects a deepening conflict between the Trump administration and U.S. intelligence agencies, raising concerns about politicization and retaliation within national security circles.