WASHINGTON — In a sweeping move to restore integrity to the Intelligence Community, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former officials who she says “abused public trust by politicizing and manipulating” sensitive information. This includes individuals tied to the controversial Obama-era report on Russian interference in the 2016 election—an assessment now widely discredited.
An official memo from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), dated August 18, states: “The President has directed that, effective immediately, the security clearances of the following 37 individuals are revoked… Any contracts or employment with the U.S. Government by these 37 individuals is hereby terminated.”
The list includes former top Obama-era intelligence operatives such as Stephanie O’Sullivan and Vinh Nguyen, both of whom played roles under then-DNI James Clapper during the creation of the flawed 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). That report claimed Russia favored Donald Trump in the 2016 race—a conclusion now called into question by newly declassified documents and independent investigations.
Nguyen, who was recently serving in the Trump administration as the NSA’s first AI chief, was exposed earlier this month by RealClearInvestigations as a key player in the ICA’s drafting. Several others who lost their clearances also signed a 2019 public letter backing the Democrats’ first impeachment inquiry into Trump.
“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” Gabbard said in a bold statement. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”
Gabbard emphasized the need to depoliticize national security: “Our Intelligence Community must maintain a laser-like focus on our mission of ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”
Among those stripped of clearance is Samantha Vinograd, who served in key national security roles under both Biden and Obama and publicly pressured Trump to disclose his business interests during the 2016 campaign. Andrew P. Miller, another Obama-Biden alumnus involved in Middle East policy, was also on the list.
Since taking office, Gabbard has declassified explosive material, including a 44-page House Intelligence Committee report, that undermines the credibility of the Obama-ordered ICA. It reveals that former CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and DNI James Clapper deliberately incorporated the now-debunked Steele dossier, despite warnings from veteran analysts.
The 2017 ICA’s “egregious” flaws helped ignite the Russia collusion narrative, which plagued President Trump for years. Even Obama’s own pre-election intelligence showed no cyber interference altered the vote. But instead of following the facts, Brennan and his team pushed a political agenda.
A DOJ investigation—launched under Trump—into Brennan, Comey, and Clapper remains ongoing.
