US Intelligence Sharing Stalls Amid Internal Turf Wars and Political Pressure

The disruption stems from a protracted clash between the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which intensified during Tulsi Gabbard’s tenure as intelligence chief. Although tensions have eased since her resignation, structural damage remains. The CIA ceased co-authoring assessments with the National Intelligence Council, effectively stripping decision-makers of the consolidated, multi-agency analysis traditionally used to navigate complex foreign policy crises, including the ongoing war in Iran.

Beyond institutional infighting, analysts are increasingly hesitant to produce intelligence that contradicts the White House’s preferred narratives. Sources indicate that staff fear political retribution for presenting "unwelcome" information. This environment has prompted alarm among veteran officials at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, who are now drafting plans to rebuild intelligence coordination protocols for a future administration. While current Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has begun restoring some congressional briefings, the internal barriers between agencies—ranging from the FBI’s limited cooperation with the National Counterterrorism Centre to the hollowing out of the intelligence council—continue to stifle the flow of vital national security data.