Top Democrats on congressional intelligence committees say the Trump administration has politicized and weakened U.S. intelligence by prioritizing loyalty, removing experienced officers and cutting programs that counter disinformation and bolster cyber defenses. Sen. Mark Warner warned adversaries could exploit these changes. Two House Democrats asked the intelligence director whether strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats have led allies—reportedly Colombia, Britain and the Netherlands—to limit intelligence sharing, a move lawmakers say could harm U.S. security.
Democrats Say Trump Administration Has Undermined U.S. Intelligence and Strained Alliances
Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees sharply criticized the Trump administration's handling of intelligence, saying U.S. spy agencies have been weakened and politicized.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia warned on the Senate floor that the administration has increasingly rewarded loyalty over expertise and removed seasoned intelligence officers, including senior leaders. He also said deep budget cuts have curtailed efforts to counter foreign disinformation and have reduced U.S. cyber defenses.
"We are watching, in real time, an administration strip away the guardrails that have protected this country for generations," Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, warning that adversaries such as China and Russia could seek to exploit these changes amid rising global tensions.
The administration has also revoked security clearances for dozens of current and former national security officials, a step critics say reflects political influence over intelligence work.
Separately, two House Democrats — Reps. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) — sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence asking whether recent strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats have prompted some countries to curtail intelligence sharing with the United States. The lawmakers cited reports that Colombia, Britain and the Netherlands have limited some cooperation.
Those strikes reportedly killed dozens of people the U.S. government says were involved in drug trafficking, raising questions about due process, international law and the appropriate use of force. Colombia's president posted on social media that intelligence sharing would be restricted "as long as missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean continue."
The lawmakers warned that reduced willingness by partners to share information could diminish U.S. national security: "To the extent that targeted killings of alleged drug traffickers or other policies reduce the willingness of our partners to work closely with our national security agencies, the United States will be less safe as a result."
In response, a spokesperson for the intelligence office cited comments from members of Congress emphasizing strong U.S. partnerships. Sen. Marco Rubio pushed back on reports that Britain had curtailed intelligence sharing over the strikes, calling those accounts "a false story."
The debate underscores tensions between aggressive counterdrug or counterterrorism actions and the need to maintain trust with international intelligence partners.
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