Dr. Samuel B. Hoff, a George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus and the internship director at Delaware State University, has taught and published extensively on intelligence, foreign policy and national security.
It didn’t take long for the Donald Trump administration to take a wrecking ball to U.S. national security and intelligence infrastructure and reputation. Therefore, a scholarly assessment of the damage should not have to wait until some artificial juncture, like 100 days into his second term.
The Trump White House was handed an intelligence community that was in good shape at the end of the Biden presidency. The road back from post-9/11 scrutiny was difficult, but the CIA regained its place as the premier spy agency in the world. From the successful prisoner exchanges with the Russian Federation to its assistance in the killing of Osama bin Laden to its timely updating of technology, there was reason to be hopeful that the momentum would continue.
Instead, President Trump demonstrated his disdain for the intelligence and national security community by the personnel he selected and by the treatment of outgoing staff.
First, notwithstanding their military service, the selections of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and John Ratcliffe as CIA director were more to ensure loyalty than anything else, as both made a reputation criticizing the positions they were appointed to. Conversely, the person whose career has been spent in intelligence — National Security Agency director general Tim Haugh — was fired by Trump last week at the behest of conspiracy queen Laura Loomer. That followed the withdrawal of the nomination of longtime station chief Ralph Goff as CIA director of operations, ostensibly because he wasn’t a Trump loyalist. Talk about a deep state!
Next, there is the Signal chat controversy involving the aforementioned officials, along with secretary of state Marco Rubio and defense secretary Pete Hegseth, among others. The sharing of wartime plans in real time on an insecure platform is an offense subject to court-martial in the military. For a group of advisers whose background includes such service, that is unforgivable. But, rather than the normal protocol for such a transgression — including resignations and a major investigation — we get a diversion tactic of White House staff calling for a study of former President Joe Biden’s mental acumen.
Recently, Elon Musk visited the CIA at the invitation of director Radcliffe. That didn’t stop Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency from firing 80 probationary workers, several of whom sued. While a U.S. District Court judge blocked immediate termination for the latter employees, their long-term prospects are bleak, as the president has gained the upper hand in removal power issues. Meanwhile, the time and cost of training new personnel was wasted.
Following the terrorist attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the CIA was involved in the torture of detainees at secret sites overseas, a black stain on the agency, for which it has admitted and taken steps to prevent. Sadly, the Trump administration is traveling down a similar path of abuse with the manner by which it has detained and deported some supposedly illegal immigrants. Ignoring the rule of law to demonstrate toughness is wimpy for sure.
Ultimately, the Trump administration lacks a comprehensive national security strategy. The best idea emanating from Project 2025 is for the downgrading of the director of national intelligence post, a proposal supported in this corner. Alternatively, claiming “America First,” being suspicious of alliances and basing foreign policy on a combination of imperialism, intimidation and quid pro quo is a recipe for disaster.
A recent article by columnist David Ignatius argues that “intelligence agencies need competent leaders because a president needs them to act quickly and decisively in a crisis.” With the politicization of national security and intelligence, and with morale at an all-time low among career staff, there is not much time to turn things around, and the world’s worries won’t wait.
Leave it to Donald Trump to make intelligence wonks yearn for the days of the Cold War.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
