A statement by the CIA stated that the federal agency is working to align itself with US President Trump’s national security priorities
The CIA and NSA have already offered voluntary resignations to some employees. Pic/Istock
The White House plans to cut staffing at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency, Trump administration officials told members of Congress, The Washington Post reported. A person familiar with the plan but not authorised to discuss it publicly confirmed the changes on condition of anonymity.
The administration plans to reduce the CIA workforce by 1200 over several years, and cut thousands of positions at the NSA and other intelligence agencies. The Post reported that the reductions at the CIA include several hundred people who have already opted for early retirement. The rest of the cuts would be achieved partly through reduced hirings and would not likely necessitate layoffs. In response to questions about the reductions, the CIA issued a statement saying CIA Director John Ratcliffe is working to align the agency with Trump’s national security priorities.
John Ratcliffe
“These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position the CIA to deliver on its mission,” the agency wrote in the statement. The CIA and NSA have already offered voluntary resignations to some employees. The agencies also has said it plans to lay off an unknown number of recently hired employees.
The new administration has also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programmes at intelligence agencies, though a judge has temporarily blocked efforts to fire 19 employees working on DEI programmes who challenged their terminations. Trump also abruptly fired the general who led the NSA and the Pentagon’s Cyber Command. Ratcliffe has vowed to overhaul the CIA and said he wants to boost the agency’s use of intelligence from human sources and its focus on China.
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