CIA Analyst Survey Shows Significant Rise in Concerns Over Political Pressure Undermining Intelligence Objectivity

A survey conducted by the CIA's ombudsman for analytic integrity, covering last year and sent to the agency's analytic workforce, found a significant increase in the number of officers who said political influence is undermining the objectivity of analysis, according to The Atlantic, which cited people familiar with the results 1. Most written responses named actions by then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, including the dismissal of two senior officers after a Gabbard deputy sought to rewrite an assessment that Venezuela was not directing the Tren de Aragua gang, and her revocation of security clearances for more than three dozen current and former officials without citing evidence of wrongdoing, several of whom had worked the 2016 Russia interference investigation 12. A majority of respondents said they were satisfied with how their own managers protected objectivity 1. CIA Director John Ratcliffe's office, through spokesperson Liz Lyons, said the agency is committed to providing objective analysis and cited the Iran and Venezuela operations as evidence 1. The survey results are set to be sent to Congress 1.