Trump Loyalists Take Command of the Intelligence Community

At a moment when Americans have new appreciation for the government professionals who protect against global threats, the Trump administration is weighing cuts in funding and staff for the National Counterterrorism Center, created after Sept. 11, 2001, to shield the homeland from attack.

The debate about trimming the NCTC, as it is known, is part of a broader examination of intelligence coordination by Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist who was named acting director of national intelligence last month. Grenell replaced Joseph Maguire, a 36-year Navy SEAL who had headed the NCTC before he became acting director of national intelligence last August.

A statement from the DNI’s office said Grenell and his staff had begun a “careful review” of past studies that “have identified opportunities to refocus or transfer activities at ODNI to eliminate duplication of work with other agencies.” While this review is underway, the statement said, Grenell has imposed a “short-term pause in external hiring” at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and its components, such as the NCTC.