Risking a National Security Disaster

Longtime FBI watcher Ron Kessler says stripping counterintelligence primacy from the bureau is a terrible idea

OPINION

A Republican sponsored bill in Congress would transfer primary responsibility for counterterrorism and counterintelligence from the FBI to Tulsi Gabbard’s ODNI, which lacks law enforcement powers.

Intelligence officials who have little understanding of what the FBI does to counter foreign terrorist threats are proposing stripping the bureau of its primary role in conducting counterintelligence.

It’s not the first time.

In the latest iteration, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is proposing giving primary authority over counterintelligence, which includes uncovering and countering foreign terrorist threats, to her agency. House Republicans are already pushing the plan in proposed legislation.