Tulsi Gabbard orders firing of over 100 intelligence officers for explicit chats

Tulsi Gabbard framed the mass firings as part of a wider effort to depoliticize intelligence agencies and restore trust in the system. (Courtesy: AP file photo)

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Tuesday that more than 100 intelligence officers from 15 agencies had been fired for engaging in sexually explicit discussions on a government chat tool meant for sensitive security communications. The move, which she described as an effort to restore professionalism and accountability in the intelligence community, is part of the Trump administration's broader push to “clean house”, as reported by Fox News.

Sexually explicit chats on NSA platform lead to mass firings

The chat platform, administered by the National Security Agency (NSA), was designed for secure discussions on intelligence matters. However, a group of employees allegedly used it for conversations involving sexual content and discussions about gender transition surgery, according to intelligence officials.

The existence of the chats was first revealed by conservative activist Christopher Rufo, who published transcripts on Monday. Following the disclosure, Gabbard issued a directive to terminate the employees involved and strip them of their security clearances. “This was an egregious violation of trust,” Gabbard said in an appearance on Fox News, calling the conversations a breach of “basic rules and standards” of workplace professionalism.

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) stated on X that Gabbard had sent a memo to all intelligence agencies, requiring them to identify any employees who had participated in “sexually explicit chat rooms” on the NSA platform by Friday.

Gabbard links move to broader Trump administration reforms

Gabbard framed the mass firings as part of a wider effort to depoliticize intelligence agencies and restore trust in the system. “Today’s action, in holding these individuals accountable, is just the beginning of what we are seeing across the Trump administration,” she said. She added that the administration was working to “clean house, root out that rot and corruption, and weaponization and politicization, so we can start to rebuild that trust in these institutions.”

According to Fox News, her comments reflect broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the intelligence community, particularly by removing personnel seen as politically motivated or misaligned with the administration’s goals.

Diversity and inclusion personnel also face dismissals

Beyond the explicit chat controversy, the administration has also moved to fire an unspecified number of intelligence officers who worked on diversity and inclusion programs during the Biden administration. However, these dismissals have been paused by a federal judge, who is set to rule on the matter Thursday.

Unlike those involved in the chat scandal, the diversity-focused employees have not been accused of misconduct and have sued the government, arguing that they should be reassigned rather than terminated.

Gabbard claims intelligence officers are stepping forward

Gabbard said that since taking action on the explicit chat case, other intelligence officers have come forward with additional allegations of misconduct within the agencies. She insisted that her office remains committed to restoring the intelligence community’s focus on national security.

“People are stepping forward because they are all on board with the mission to clean house and refocus on our core mission of serving the American people,” Gabbard said.

As the administration pushes forward with its intelligence shake-up, legal challenges and internal resistance may shape how far these reforms go.

Tulsi Gabbard’s directive to fire over 100 intelligence officers for engaging in explicit discussions on a government chat tool underscores the Trump administration’s push to reshape the intelligence community. While the administration frames the move as necessary for accountability, broader dismissals—including diversity personnel—have sparked legal challenges. The coming weeks will determine how these efforts unfold.