Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard initiated a major crackdown on unauthorized disclosures within America's intelligence network by referring multiple officials for criminal investigation.
According to the Daily Mail, Gabbard has referred two intelligence officials to the Department of Justice for allegedly leaking classified information to major newspapers, with a third referral pending.
The officials are accused of sharing sensitive intelligence with the Washington Post and New York Times in what Gabbard characterized as politically motivated leaks aimed at undermining President Trump's agenda. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence conducted an internal review before sending the criminal referrals to the Justice Department, which will determine whether to launch formal FBI investigations.
Gabbard established a dedicated task force last month specifically focused on identifying and stopping unauthorized disclosures of classified information. Her office confirmed they are investigating several cases, including a leak about Israel-Iran intelligence to the Washington Post.
The Department of Defense has launched its own parallel investigation into potential leaks, resulting in the termination of three senior officials. Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, top adviser Dan Caldwell, and Chief of Staff Colin Carroll were escorted from Pentagon premises last week amid the probe.
The fired officials strongly denied any wrongdoing in a joint statement, emphasizing their military service records and commitment to information security. They characterized the accusations as baseless attacks on their character.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the dismissals and warned of likely prosecutions ahead. He shared Gabbard's statement about the unauthorized disclosures:
Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation's security at risk and must end. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Hegseth explained that multiple leaks triggered their investigation, including disclosures about military options regarding the Panama Canal and details of Elon Musk's Pentagon visit. He expressed disappointment in having to terminate long-time associates but emphasized that protecting national security took precedence over personal relationships.
The defense secretary himself faces scrutiny after reports emerged that he shared information about a U.S. military operation in a private Signal chat group with family members. Neither Hegseth nor the White House has denied these claims, instead focusing criticism on disgruntled employees.
The Department of Justice is expected to refer the cases to the FBI for formal criminal investigations once they review the evidence from Gabbard's office. Sources indicate that investigators are aggressively pursuing additional leads and more criminal referrals may follow.
President Trump expressed support for the crackdown on leakers, dismissing criticism as coming from "disgruntled employees." He praised Gabbard's efforts to remove what he termed "bad people" from intelligence positions.
The Defense Department's internal investigation continues alongside the intelligence community probe, with officials warning that anyone considering unauthorized disclosures should take these actions as a serious warning.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has launched an unprecedented effort to identify and prosecute individuals who leak classified information from within America's intelligence apparatus. Her office has already referred two officials to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation related to unauthorized disclosures to major newspapers, with a third referral imminent. The campaign extends beyond the intelligence community, as evidenced by the Defense Department's parallel investigation that resulted in three senior officials being escorted from the Pentagon. These actions signal a determined push to restore security protocols and prevent politically motivated leaks that could compromise national security.
