Intelligence
25 years after 9/11, spy agencies face old lessons and new threats
Former intelligence officials describe a nation better equipped to disrupt terrorist plots, but still wrestling with the costs of its response and how to prevent the next crisis under escalating technology threats.
Dozens of current, former officials see at least a 10% chance humans lose control of AI
Nearly half of respondents in the survey released Wednesday serve or have served in the Defense Department, an agency locked in fierce discourse over military use of AI systems.
Updated
Intelligence agency employee pleads guilty to trying to share classified info with foreign government
Nathan Vilas Laatsch was allegedly disgruntled by the Trump administration and willing to share sensitive data with the foreign country. The FBI set up a dead drop operation to intercept the classified materials.
Lawmakers press Commerce to restrict Americans from aiding foreign spy agencies
A bipartisan group says unfinished export control rules leave civilian intelligence services able to obtain U.S. cyber, surveillance and AI assistance.
Senate confirms Clayton as Trump’s next intelligence director
The former SEC chairman will replace acting intelligence chief Bill Pulte, whose brief tenure oversaw repeated personnel cuts to the nation’s top spy office.
Pulte announces 30% ODNI staff reduction hours before Clayton vote
The acting intelligence chief said a fifth and “near final” round of terminations was underway Tuesday but did not disclose how many employees were affected.
Secret Service is examining apparent Iranian video outlining Trump motorcade routes, assassination opportunities
The agency said it is looking into the Persian-language video, which uses polished, apparently AI-generated graphics to depict supposed motorcade routes in Florida and New York.
IARPA launches new acquisition marketplace
The IARPA Solutions Marketplace is designed to help the intelligence community more rapidly procure innovative products from industry.
Trump stretches declassified China intelligence into broader 2020 election claims
The records provide new details about Chinese intelligence collection on voters and internal analytic debates, but do not undercut longstanding findings on the 2020 election.
Exclusive
Cait Conley fears Trump’s cartel focus could create a national security blind spot
The NY-17 Democratic nominee questioned the administration’s planning for Iran and said she would seek a seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, if elected.
Pulte’s early ODNI cuts include dozens sent back to home agencies
Senate Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton said the acting director of national intelligence told him about 45 to 50 career officers are being returned to their home agencies, while a smaller number of front-office personnel are leaving federal service.
Lawmakers warn acting DNI against using role for major workforce shakeups
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., cited concerns about reported ODNI staff cuts while Bill Pulte temporarily leads the intelligence community.
Exclusive
White House expected to direct intelligence agencies to protect quantum research from foreign threats
The executive order is expected this week and tasks the departments of Defense and Energy to build and host a quantum computer for scientific discovery.
Intelligence director hearing cancelled as Trump pushes for controversial voter bill
The development guarantees that Bill Pulte — whose selection to temporarily lead the office derailed a recent FISA vote — would start as acting national intelligence director on Friday.
A key spying power will sunset on Friday — here’s why
A months-long standoff over privacy and the future of the nation’s top spy office has pushed a cornerstone surveillance law to the brink.
House vote puts Section 702 on brink of historic lapse amid fight over acting spy chief
Trump’s plan to nominate Jay Clayton as permanent top spy may ease Democrats’ concerns, but lawmakers remain at odds over whether Bill Pulte will lead the intelligence community during the transition.
Breaking News
Trump appoints housing official to be acting director of national intelligence
The selection is unconventional for the nation’s lead intelligence official, a role tasked with managing 18 distinct agencies like the CIA and NSA.
House panel approves slate of DHS intelligence reform bills
The measures aim to modernize terror alerts, expand local threat support and standardize training under the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, which the Trump administration is seeking to restructure.
‘It would be insane’ for spy agencies to not have AI model early access, lawmaker says
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said the Commerce Department should also have a role in AI policy.
Senate passes 10-day FISA extension after House revolt sinks long-term deal
The short-term patch was cleared by unanimous consent hours after the House sank a five-year proposal and had to pivot to the 10-day stopgap. It now goes to President Donald Trump’s desk.
