Tulsi Gabbard has ordered a sweeping investigation into threats against Donald Trump while simultaneously overhauling the U.S. intelligence apparatus to align with his administration’s agenda.
At a Glance
- Secret Service investigates credible threats to former President Trump, confirmed May 15
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard vows swift response, citing national security imperatives
- Gabbard recently fired top intelligence officials after a memo contradicted Trump’s deportation policy
- Congressman Jim Himes accuses Gabbard of politicizing the intelligence community
- Intelligence functions are being consolidated under Gabbard’s office in a dramatic structural shift
Gabbard Orders Investigation into Threats
Former President Donald Trump is once again at the center of a national security storm—this time due to confirmed threats to his life. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made the announcement May 15, declaring, “We’re taking this very seriously,” and pledging a coordinated intelligence response. The investigation, now under the direction of Secret Service head Sean Curran, underscores heightened concerns about political violence in a polarized climate.
Watch a report: Gabbard Responds to Trump Threats.
A recent Rutgers poll found that over 55% of Americans are concerned about threats to Trump, highlighting the issue’s resonance beyond partisan lines. But the backdrop to this threat investigation reveals a deeper transformation underway inside America’s intelligence community.
Political Firings Rock the Intelligence Establishment
Just days before the threat investigation was launched, Gabbard dismissed key National Intelligence Council officials Mike Collins and Maria Langan-Riekhof. The firings followed a classified assessment that found no credible link between the Venezuelan government and the Tren de Aragua gang—undermining Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for mass deportations.
Critics say the firings were politically motivated. “Absent evidence to justify the firings,” said Congressman Jim Himes, “the workforce can only conclude their jobs are contingent on aligning with the President’s political agenda.” Gabbard’s office countered, stating she’s working “to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community.”
Structural Overhaul Under Gabbard
Gabbard’s vision doesn’t stop at personnel. She’s executing a broader consolidation of intelligence power—shifting responsibilities from the CIA to her office as Director of National Intelligence. This move centralizes control over 18 federal agencies, a strategy framed as a cost-cutting measure to reduce leaks and bureaucratic inertia.
Her supporters view it as long-overdue reform; critics warn it erodes institutional independence. Either way, the result is a dramatic realignment of U.S. intelligence, with Donald Trump’s political and personal security now a top priority of the restructured apparatus.
As the threat investigation unfolds, so does a much larger narrative—one in which political loyalty, national security, and the limits of democratic oversight are being tested in real time.
