Even Trump's White House isn't a fan of Tulsi Gabbard's plot to take on the 'deep state'

Trump Administration Blocks Tulsi Gabbard's Counterintelligence Plan

Tulsi Gabbard’s attempt to take control of counterintelligence from the FBI has encountered resistance from within the Trump White House.

Opposition to Transferring FBI's Counterintelligence Role

A senior official confirmed to The Atlantic that the Trump administration opposes shifting the FBI’s counterintelligence duties to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), headed by Gabbard.

Gabbard's Critique of the Intelligence Community

Gabbard has characterized the intelligence community as a “deep state” allied against President Trump. She called intelligence leaders “traitors to the Constitution” who aimed to undermine the president.

Efforts to Centralize Authority

Over the past year, she has revoked security clearances and sought to concentrate counterintelligence powers within her office, striving to reshape how national security oversight operates.

“Counterintelligence, the work of catching foreign spies, has long been the FBI’s bailiwick, and the bureau is vehemently opposed to the transfer.”

“But Gabbard’s office seems to believe that the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division is irredeemably politicized—which is to say anti-Trump.”

Challenges to Gabbard’s Push

Despite her efforts, the initiative has struggled to find support within the administration and the broader intelligence community.

Summary

Tulsi Gabbard’s bid to assume control over FBI counterintelligence faces strong opposition from the Trump White House, which maintains the bureau’s traditional role and rejects accusations of politicization.

Raw Story — 2025-11-08