The first political trial against Trump began with the former president's campaign against the intelligence community. From the first day of his inauguration, Trump ordered the revocation of security clearances for 50 former intelligence agents who had expressed doubts about possible Russian disinformation regarding reports related to Biden's son. Trump's appointment of Tulsi Gabbard to oversee U.S. intelligence agencies generated tensions, as Gabbard critically described U.S. intelligence.
In this regard, the Trump administration has expressed concerns about alleged waste and disloyalty within the Department of Justice, USAID, and other federal agencies, raising alarm among former intelligence officials about possible purges. Although key intelligence agencies in the country, such as the CIA and NSA, have so far avoided the attention of Elon Musk's Government Efficiency Department, various experts fear this may change in the future. Trump's distrust of U.S. intelligence is linked to the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections in his favor, a claim the president has rejected.
Despite the criticism, DOGE's actions have been supported by the White House under the premise of meeting Trump's accountability and efficiency objectives. DOGE's focus has shifted to other areas of government, such as the Department of the Treasury and USAID; however, some actions raised concerns, such as reports that the CIA shared a list of newly hired employees.
The contentious relationship between Trump and the intelligence agencies intensified following the conclusions about Russian interference in the 2016 elections. This dispute led to emblematic episodes, such as the moment Trump publicly questioned the conclusions of his intelligence agencies at a press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. Furthermore, Trump's suspicions about intelligence intensified after a CIA officer raised concerns about pressure on the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden. At the same time, the Department of Justice has moved to dismiss top FBI leaders.
