Government chat system misused
More than 100 US intelligence officers have been dismissed for engaging in sexually explicit conversations on a government-operated chat platform originally intended for classified discussions. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, announced the firings on Tuesday, confirming that the officers—spanning 15 agencies—would also lose their security clearances.
The chat system, managed by the National Security Agency (NSA), was reportedly used for inappropriate discussions, including those related to gender transition surgery, intelligence officials revealed.
Misconduct exposed
The existence of these chats first came to light through conservative activist Christopher Rufo in City Journal. Following the revelation, Gabbard issued an immediate directive to remove those involved, labeling their actions an “egregious violation of trust” and a breach of professional ethics.
“This is just the beginning of what we are seeing across the Trump administration,” Gabbard told The New York Times. She emphasized the need to “clean house, root out corruption, and restore trust” in intelligence agencies.
Further investigations underway
A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Alexa Henning, confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that a memo had been sent to all intelligence agencies, requiring them to identify employees involved in these chats by Friday.
The NSA acknowledged the controversy and stated that investigations were ongoing to prevent further misuse of government systems. The agency also clarified that the actions of a small group should not be seen as representative of the entire intelligence community.
Diversity program firings paused
In addition to the dismissals over explicit chats, Gabbard’s office and the CIA have taken steps to remove employees who worked on diversity initiatives under the Biden administration. However, a federal judge has temporarily halted this move, with a final ruling expected Thursday. Unlike the explicit chat case, no misconduct has been alleged against those involved in diversity programs, and some employees have filed lawsuits seeking reassignment.
Gabbard also noted that more intelligence officers have begun coming forward with reports of additional misconduct, reinforcing her goal of “refocusing on the core mission of serving the American people.”
As Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard oversees 18 intelligence agencies with a budget of $100 billion, advising President Trump on national security matters. A former Representative from Hawaii (2013-2021), she previously served in Iraq and Kuwait with the Hawaii Army National Guard.
