Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has dismissed two senior officials at the National Intelligence Council (NIC), citing efforts to eliminate what she described as the “weaponization and politicization” of the intelligence community.
The abrupt firings include Acting NIC Chair Mike Collins and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof—both long-serving intelligence veterans with decades of experience. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees the council, confirmed the move on Tuesday, framing it as part of a broader push to restore integrity within the intelligence ranks.
“The director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” an ODNI spokesperson told The Hill. The firings were first reported by Fox News.
In another significant move, Gabbard has also ordered the NIC to vacate its offices at CIA headquarters, relocating the council back under the direct roof of the ODNI. The council is considered the analytic backbone of the U.S. intelligence community, playing a critical role in shaping assessments that inform national security policy.
The personnel changes follow the recent declassification and release—under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request—of an NIC assessment that contradicted key claims made by the Trump administration. The report cast doubt on allegations that the Venezuelan government is actively coordinating with the violent Tren de Aragua gang, undermining one of the administration’s justifications for invoking wartime authority to deport migrants under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act.
“While Venezuela’s permissive environment enables TDA to operate, the Maduro regime probably does not have a policy of cooperating with TDA and is not directing TDA movement to and operations in the United States,” the assessment concluded.
The report had been requested for release by Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.). Gabbard’s office initially authorized the declassification but later criticized the media for allegedly misrepresenting the intelligence findings, accusing outlets of trying to discredit President Trump’s immigration policies.
The shake-up also drew attention because of Collins’s reported connection to former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was among a group of former intelligence officials that questioned the legitimacy of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 election, suggesting it bore hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Collins has served nearly 30 years in the intelligence community, beginning as an East Asia analyst and later becoming chief of staff to the CIA’s deputy director. Langan-Riekhof brings a similarly extensive background, with over three decades of experience focusing on Middle Eastern affairs and strategic forecasting. She previously led the Strategic Futures Group within the NIC and had been recognized by ODNI for her analytical excellence.
The dismissals mark one of the most consequential personnel shifts in the intelligence community under Gabbard’s tenure—and reflect the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to realign the intelligence apparatus with its political priorities.