DNI Tulsi Gabbard moves to terminate, revoke security clearances of NSA employees tied to explicit chatrooms
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Gabbard: Over 100 Intel Officers Fired Over Alleged Explicit Chats
Above: US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Image copyright: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday ordered the termination and security clearance revocation of more than 100 intelligence officers from 15 agencies for allegedly participating in sexually explicit discussions on the National Security Agency's (NSA) Intelink messaging platform.
The chat rooms, titled "LBTQA" and "IC_Pride_TWG," were originally intended for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) discussions but were allegedly used for explicit conversations about sexual topics, gender transition surgery, and personal experiences.
Conservative journalist Christopher Rufo first exposed the chat logs Monday, prompting the NSA on Tuesday to announce an investigation, while stating that potential misuse by a small group does not represent the broader intelligence community.
The Spin
Republican narrative
These explicit chats were a serious breach of professional conduct and trust within intelligence agencies. They may have been tolerated by the prior administration under the guise of DEI, but they will no longer be allowed. Immediate corrective action is necessary to maintain the integrity of and restore confidence in these institutions.
Democratic narrative
The targeted removal of these employees, along with the dismantling of DEI programs, appears to be part of a politically motivated purge. This will harm workplace diversity and inclusion efforts, while also violating federal workforce protection laws. It also undermines the public's confidence that these institutions can remain apolitical.