Senators Press IG Nominees on Independence After ODNI Personnel Move

Nominees for inspector general posts at the intelligence community and the Central Intelligence Agency told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on June 1 that they would protect the independence of their offices after senators raised concerns about a recent Office of the Director of National Intelligence personnel placement and termination.

The warning came as Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the committee, criticized recent actions he said had ‘‘shaded intelligence to support a political narrative’’ and warned that "politicized intelligence . . . puts American lives at risk." Warner also cited reports that a top political appointee at the ODNI pressured career analysts to alter an assessment "to ensure that it wouldn't be, 'used against the DNI or POTUS.'"

The committee focused extensive questioning on whether it is appropriate for the director of national intelligence to place an official who reports to the DNI inside an inspector general office and whether the DNI may lawfully terminate inspector general personnel. Senators asked whether nominees would defend whistleblowers and maintain independent investigative authority.

Christopher Fox, the nominee to be inspector general of the intelligence community, told the committee "I will protect whistle blowers. Not just in principle, but in practice." Peter Thompson, the nominee for CIA inspector general, said he would "protect whistleblowers just . . . to the absolute fullest extent of the law," stressing that OIG work must be "unbiased and impartial." Both nominees told senators they would follow the law and seek to keep their offices independent from improper influence.

Senators repeatedly asked the nominees to address a recent ODNI personnel action described in a notification from the acting IC inspector general, which said the DNI installed a senior advisor in the IG's office who reported to the DNI and that the IG counsel who questioned the legal basis for that appointment was later fired. Nominees said they were not involved in those specific decisions but acknowledged the committee's concerns and pledged to review the facts if confirmed.

Committee members noted statutory changes intended to strengthen inspector general independence. Senator Ron Wyden recalled legislation passed in 2009 giving the IC IG and the CIA IG authority over most hiring and firing in their offices and asked the nominees to commit to protecting personnel from improper removals. Fox and Thompson said they would defend independent operations and, if necessary, work with the committee on legislative fixes.

Members said the moment places heightened stress on inspector general offices. Thompson said the IG "must independently plan and execute all of its oversight work," and Fox said the office should be "known, trusted, and accessible" to the workforce.

The committee followed with additional questions and indicated it will circulate written follow-ups. No formal committee action occurred at the hearing; senators said they plan a business meeting after the July work period to vote on the nominations.

Less critical details noted at the hearing included committee plans to convene a business meeting after the July 4 work period to consider the nominations and scheduling constraints to accommodate floor votes the same day.