WASHINGTON — Bill Pulte walked into his new role as Director of National Intelligence and immediately asked for names of officials to cut. He was on a mission to do what President Donald Trump had asked of him: “execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office.” 
That mission has set off a firestorm within the intelligence community. The Daily Wire has learned that Pulte is working closely with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who view DNI’s oversight as a hindrance to individual intelligence agencies. 
Their opponents argue that downsizing and cutting ODNI’s oversight only enables the very deep state that Trump so adamantly wants to root out. 
Trump’s mandate to Pulte didn’t expressly say to fire people, but instead to send them back to their home agencies. That appears to be largely what Pulte is doing: since he took over, more than 50 ODNI staff have been removed from their jobs, an administration official confirmed to The Daily Wire. Forty-five of those individuals were returned to their home agencies, while six career officials were fired.
A senate source familiar with the matter told The Daily Wire that Pulte is working closely with Cotton and Ratcliffe, as well as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  Contrary to media reporting, that senate advisor said, the senators like Pulte and enjoy working with him. Asked about reports that Pulte’s cuts have been contradictory or disorganized, the senate source pushed back, saying: “His cuts have been deliberate.” 
The CIA would not comment directly on Ratcliffe’s interactions with Pulte, but spokeswoman Liz Lyons told The Daily Wire that Ratcliffe “continues to support acting DNI Pulte&#8217;s mission to advance the President&#8217;s priorities.”
ODNI did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Daily Wire.
News that Pulte would assume the acting DNI role sparked massive backlash from Democrats and some Republicans. Critics pointed to his lack of intelligence experience and said he&#8217;d be a hatchet man for the president. Even Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters in early June: &#8220;We don&#8217;t need a weaponized DNI.&#8221; 
His treatment of the outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard drew criticism as well. Gabbard was supposed to stay in her role until the end of June, but Pulte, eager to get started (and make use of his limited time as acting DNI), aggressively pushed for Gabbard to leave early, a senior intelligence official shared. The move angered Gabbard’s supporters, particularly because Gabbard had agreed to a particular timeline with President Trump in light of her husband&#8217;s cancer diagnosis.
One notable Pulte victim was Will Ruger, the deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, who was placed on administrative leave. He led the intelligence community&#8217;s &#8220;collaborative integration efforts and primary intelligence support to policymakers through the President&#8217;s Daily Brief and the National Intelligence Council,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/odni-bill-pulte-fires-6-staff-sends-45-to-home-agencies/">CBS News first reported</a>.
Some conservatives worry Pulte&#8217;s cuts will result in a weakened ODNI that can&#8217;t rein in rogue agencies like the FBI and CIA. Under Gabbard&#8217;s direction, DNI had already cut 40% of staff, leaving the agency with less than 1,400 employees, compared to the estimated 38,000 of the FBI and 20,000 of the CIA.
&#8220;The mistake is they&#8217;re getting rid of people who are loyal to POTUS,” a former intelligence official alleged, “and if they get rid of ODNI there is no one to do actual effective oversight of the Intelligence Community.&#8221;
ODNI’s supporters also point to the recent weaponization of the FBI, for example, against Trump and his allies under President Joe Biden, arguing that the bureau still is staffed with agents that were part of this weaponization and that oversight is still needed. 
“The DNI manages the National Intelligence Program budget, giving the ODNI real fiscal leverage over FBI Counterintelligence operations,” a second former intelligence official said. “Given that the FBI Counterintelligence Division has been completely rogue since Trump came down the escalator, and because Congress has proven itself incapable of conducting any real oversight of the FBI and CIA, the Trump Administration should be cautious when liquidating a component of the USG with true oversight ability.” 
Congress has oversight over the FBI and the CIA, but at the end of the day, the lawmakers are only briefed on what the agencies choose to tell them. In some cases, the senior intelligence official said, Congress will never know “unless shit goes so badly that they can’t hide it.”
The DNI position was created after 9/11. Before, the CIA director effectively ran the entire intelligence community in addition to his own agency.
Cotton outright made the case that things may have been better off then <a href="https://x.com/SenTomCotton/status/2069838467060711625?s=20">on the Senate floor</a> this week: “Unfortunately,” he said, “I think we can now assess a couple decades on, that it is something of a failed experiment itself.” 
The Arkansas lawmaker, who said he wants ODNI to be downsized and streamlined, noted that ODNI does serve some functions that could possibly be “performed elsewhere.” He shared that he spoke with Pulte this week about sending officers back to their home agencies and reducing ODNI to its original size, but he denied reporting that “mass firings” had begun. 
“If Director Pulte can, in fact, take these steps in the right direction, I think that can benefit Jay Clayton once he is confirmed,” Cotton shared. “Mr. Clayton will be able to inherit an organization that has already been downsized, and he can hit the ground running on day one, to continue that work, and to ensure that the DNI is promoting our intelligence communities’ important work — not hindering it.” Hardliners like Steve Bannon view Cotton’s stance as an effort to promote the CIA. 
&#8220;When you see Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham talking about this, it’s not to go after the Deep State,&#8221; argued Bannon on his show. &#8220;It’s to downsize DNI from its administrative or supervisory function over the intelligence community to what I call &#8216;CIA supremacism.'&#8221;
But other members of the intelligence community view ODNI as a massive hindrance to the work that they are trying to accomplish. 
One senior government official questioned the efficacy of the layered bureaucracy of ODNI and exactly what the agency accomplishes, noting, “They are not the action arm.” 
“The action arm is the FBI. Gonna arrest a spy? The FBI does that. The information arm is the CIA and the NSA,” the official noted. “[ODNI] don’t produce any intelligence either.”
Pulte is only serving as acting DNI  — the president <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/06/excellent-choice-jay-clayton-earns-broad-praise-as-president-trumps-dni-nominee/">chose Jay Clayton</a>, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as his nominee for permanent Director of National Intelligence.
Clayton has received strong support from numerous Republican senators, including Cotton and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, but Trump abruptly told Clayton not to attend his confirmation hearings earlier this month after lawmakers allowed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to lapse.
Speaking from Switzerland during his trip to the G7, the president said he&#8217;ll leave Pulte as acting DNI &#8220;as long as it takes to get everybody else approved.&#8221; He noted that he is against FISA if it does not come with the SAVE America Act attached to it.
&#8220;Look, he’s a very legitimate guy,&#8221; the president said of Pulte. &#8220;He’s very smart. He’s a brilliant guy.&#8221;
&#8220;Why are they afraid of this guy?&#8221; he added. &#8220;I mean, they’re so afraid of him, they’ll do anything not to have Pulte go in there. He’s a very capable guy, and they’re worried about that.&#8221;
Pulte is notoriously close to the president, and he certainly has the president’s confidence for now. In the meantime, it appears that he will continue to downsize DNI. A senate advisor familiar with the matter told The Daily Wire of the cuts: &#8220;I think this is the start, not the end.”

Fair Isaac Shares Slump As Pulte Moves To Cut Credit Score Costs

Bill Pulte’s ODNI Purge Triggers Intel Community Civil War

Bill Pulte

odni

Tulsi Gabbard

Since the moment President Donald Trump decided to name Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence, it was clear she was going to enter the job under fire.
The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/classified-whistleblower-complaint-about-tulsi-gabbard-stalls-within-her-agency-027f5331">Wall Street Journal</a> has targeted her. National Review has targeted her. The Washington Post and the New York Times and — let&#8217;s just say a veritable host of legacy media outlets and gossip rags have all run attacks on her. On X, she is a frequent target of internet gadflies who want her out of the job.
And now, just as she’s leaving office, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/21/tulsi-gabbard-her-guru-mysterious-messages-that-helped-shape-her-political-career/">The Washington Post</a> lobs an “exposé” about her personal life and religious practices. Meanwhile, the so-called “journalists” have painfully little to say about her releasing the Fauci files — how he “provided millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research” — and ties to communist China. Keep focusing on the “real” scandals, journos; the rest of us have real work to do, and Tulsi Gabbard was a leader all the way to the end.
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/OKLV6D3fxRxAlwwXLXSPCk02024uX02TgFN?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=52d2b23e-5f4c-4cd0-93e6-f31765c576ce&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-06-19%20Tulsi%20Releases%20The%20Fauci%20Files&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2F61d7b551-138a-4879-a448-fe7f6679a78d.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
I know what leadership looks like. There are certain principles that define leaders — leaders who have the opportunity to shape the lives of countless people by the principles they embrace and how they apply them in times of friction. The unwavering pursuit of the truth, uncompromised moral clarity, steadfast honesty, and a disciplined yet passionate loyalty to the people they’re entrusted to lead — these are the high standards we should demand of our leaders.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands these principles or upholds such standards, and this reflects the mentality and motivation of her critics, who see her leadership and the principles she embodies as a threat to their narrative and institutional power, even as she leaves office under the most honorable of circumstances.
This is nothing new in the arena of politics, but for me, it’s personal.
The world may know her as Director, Representative, Lt. Colonel, or presidential candidate Gabbard, but to my daughters and me, she’s Tulsi. There is no one on this planet I trust more. She is also the first person I call when I need a real answer. Not a filtered one, not a safe one, not one designed to protect an image or position. She carries this mentality through every facet of her life and will continue to do so as she walks this next journey beside her husband.
Knowing Tulsi Gabbard is to know her answers are grounded in what is right, filtered through one standard: the Constitution. Nothing else factors into it. Not her own best interest, not what puts her in the safest position, not what is easy or comfortable, and certainly not what someone wants to hear.
In the political world, the cynic would assume this is how things operate: When someone speaks the truth, when they refuse to bend, play along, or say what is convenient, they should expect coordinated attacks. There are no facts or accountability involved. There are only carefully timed headlines and smear campaigns designed to sow seeds of doubt with the intent to bring that person’s character into question.
That is not journalism; it’s a playbook. And we should demand better — not only because Tulsi Gabbard deserves it, but because she holds herself to higher standards in everything she does. These are very large shoes to fill for the next DNI, and we should expect nothing less than the standard she set and her unwavering pursuit of the truth, despite attacks even from within her political sphere.
The attacks on Tulsi Gabbard weren’t just about her; they’re about what happens to anyone who refuses to compromise their principles for politics and power. So when outlets like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal published pieces aimed at discrediting her, I do not see journalism in the traditional sense. I see a familiar pattern: discredit the person so you don’t have to engage with what they are actually saying and doing. Create enough noise so people stop asking real questions. Turn truth into controversy so it becomes easier to dismiss. And allege, without basis, anything you want to claim based on the need to remove someone who doesn’t share your maximalist ideology.
That approach may work on people who do not know Tulsi. For those of us who have actually sat across from her, spoken with her, and understand how she thinks and operates, the narrative does not hold; it collapses under the weight of reality.
That Tulsi Gabbard was — and continues to be — a target is not a sign of a flawed leader; it’s often the clearest indicator of an unflinching, purposeful one. In life, you have to choose between being liked and being trusted. One is easy and more popular; the other actually matters when it counts. In today’s environment, Tulsi’s choices put her in the crosshairs of an establishment that looks suspiciously at those who choose truth over narrative and heartfelt belief over talking points.
When she decided to leave the Democratic Party, it was not because it was easy. It surely was not popular, and it wasn’t because it put her in a better position. She did it because she believed it was right. It harkens back to a line I like to recall from Theodore Roosevelt: “It behooves us to do our best to see that the standard of the average citizen is kept high; and the average cannot be kept high unless the standard of the leaders is very much higher.”
Tulsi Gabbard is a leader who sets a high standard. We are a better country for it and a better people for demanding and trusting such leadership. At some point, we have to decide what type of leaders we want — leaders who say what is convenient or leaders who say what is true? Do we want people who protect their position or people who protect the principles they swore to uphold? You will never get both.
What makes Tulsi Gabbard a trusted, principled leader — and a target — is not her title or position; it’s that she could not be easily influenced, redirected, or controlled by the systems that so many others learn to operate within. She did not shift with pressure. She did not abandon her values based on headlines. She never prioritized perception over principle. Until her last day, she continued to operate from a fixed point: the Constitution and the service of the American people.
That is exactly what this country claims to want. And when someone actually lives it, it’s interesting who they scare. So, thank you, Tulsi, for your commitment to service, for standing your ground in the face of your enemies, and for your decision to live by a high standard of principles, even in leaving office. A grateful nation, and a friend, bids you fair winds and following seas.
***
Dakota Meyer is a United States Marine. A veteran of the war in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. He is also a NYT bestselling author and the owner of DASH Hydrate.

US-POLITICS-INTELLIGENCE-GABBARD

Dakota Meyer: Tulsi Gabbard Always Fights For America First

Anthony Fauci

Director of National Intelligence

DW Opinion

Media Bias

Trump Administration

Anthony Fauci pushed American intelligence officials to steer questions about the origins of COVID, according to dozens of new documents declassified by outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 
On her last day in the Trump administration, Gabbard <a href="https://www.odni.gov/files/documents/Newsroom/Reports%20and%20Pubs/COVID-19_Release_DNI_Gabbard_6-18_Index.pdf">published</a> 67 new documents and emails showing Fauci’s involvement with the Intelligence Community’s probe of the origins of COVID. Gabbard also said she found proof of retaliation against intelligence officials who advocated for the now widely-accepted lab leak hypothesis of COVID over the natural origin pushed by Fauci.
“I&#8217;m releasing never before seen communications and documents that expose exactly how Fauci worked with politicized career leadership in the intelligence community to suppress the truth about his actions, the virus&#8217;s lab leak origins, and his role in directing U.S. funding for this dangerous research that caused immeasurable harm and countless lost lives,” Gabbard said in a video posted Thursday night. 
Gabbard added that “the intelligence community almost always incorporated Fauci&#8217;s recommendations.”
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One email from July 13, 2021, showed Intelligence Community investigators discussing how “Dr. Fauci recommended that the IC reach out to the below individuals,” appearing to refer to the authors of a paper pushing the claim that COVID had a natural origin. 
In reply on July 14, 2021, from an unidentified intelligence official, the person claimed Fauci knew “who the real Coronavirus experts are.” 
“In this particular case, given Dr Fauci’s background we absolutely would like to follow-up on his outreach suggestions. In this case he’s not a policymaker … he’s a [Subject Matter Expert] with a wealth of knowledge about current and historical research who probably knows better than most who the real Coronavirus experts are.” 
The unclassified documents reveal that Fauci met with the CIA’s Weapons and Counterproliferation Mission Center on June 4, 2021, where they discussed the origins of COVID and he pushed them to continue going down the natural origin path and encouraged them to contact advocates who thought the virus had a “natural origin.” 
This raises questions about Fauci’s testimony in 2024 when he was vague with lawmakers about his interactions with the Intelligence Community. 
“I can&#8217;t give you the specifics of it,” Fauci <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-118hhrg55830/html/CHRG-118hhrg55830.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com">replied</a> before pivoting to discussions of anthrax when asked if he had spoken to any U.S. intelligence agency about viral research before, during, or after the COVID-19 pandemic. 
“Politicized, self-serving leaders, like Dr. Fauci, covered up their own wrongdoing and abuses of power, manipulated intelligence, lied to Congress, and undermined a duly elected president by restricting his access to the vital facts he needed to keep the country safe. It&#8217;s time you know the truth,” Gabbard said. 
In response to the release of the documents, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) suggested that he would take further action based on the new information. 
“This release includes additional documents revealing the truth about the lab-leak origins and Fauci’s lies to Congress under oath. I’ve referred Fauci to the DOJ MULTIPLE times for criminal prosecution over his web of lies. Thank you, Director Gabbard,” Paul said. “More to come.”
During his final days in office, President Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon to Fauci to preempt any criminal investigation.

MixCollage-19-Jun-2026-07-30-AM-7354

The Fauci Files Tulsi Says They Never Wanted You To See

COVID

President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton to be the next Director of National Intelligence, replacing outgoing intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. 
Clayton currently serves as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, having previously led the SEC from May 2017 through December 2020 during Trump&#8217;s first term.
“I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the former Head of Sullivan &amp; Cromwell, one of the most prominent and successful Law Firms anywhere in the World, and the current United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next Director of National Intelligence and, importantly, to serve in my Cabinet,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible,” he added. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
While Clayton is best known for his work in financial regulation, he currently oversees one of the nation&#8217;s most prominent federal prosecutors&#8217; offices. During his tenure as U.S. attorney, the Southern District of New York has continued pursuing high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Trump&#8217;s nomination comes after Gabbard announced last month that she would step down from her post to support her husband as he undergoes treatment for a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard is scheduled to leave office at the end of June.
The selection also follows controversy surrounding Trump’s decision to name Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director. 
Democrats and some Republicans questioned whether Pulte possessed sufficient national security experience to lead the intel community, while House Democrats cited his appointment as a reason to oppose extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. 
“Bill Pulte has no relevant national security experience. Consequently, his appointment is in defiance of the law that requires the Director of National Intelligence to have ‘extensive’ national security experience,” House Democrat leaders said. “The apparent motivation for his elevation is the demonstrated willingness of Bill Pulte to search government databases for alleged dirt on President Trump’s chosen political enemies.”
Clayton must now be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume the role permanently.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt,  Tulsi Gabbard, United States Director of National Intelligence.

Trump Makes New Pick To Replace Tulsi Gabbard

Donald Trump

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Thursday shared a major health update on her husband’s aggressive cancer battle. 
The top Trump cabinet official revealed her husband, Abraham, was diagnosed with a “very rare” form of cancer called sacral chordoma. The slow-growing bone cancer typically starts in the bones of the spine or skull, according to the Mayo Clinic.  The disease can grow anywhere along the spine and mostly affects adults ages 40 to 60, with surgery as “the main treatment.” 
On Thursday, Gabbard took to X to provide an encouraging update on Abraham’s course of treatment.
“The surgery to remove bone and surrounding tissue lasted almost seven hours and was successful,” Gabbard said. “He had a rough night and is in a lot of pain, but is finally home resting.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My husband Abraham was diagnosed with a very rare sacral chordoma. The surgery to remove bone and surrounding tissue lasted almost seven hours and was successful. He had a rough night and is in a lot of pain but is finally home resting. Now recovery begins. We’re so grateful…
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2062535301289914674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
“Now recovery begins. We’re so grateful for the outpouring of prayers and kind messages from all of you. Our hearts are full,” she added. 
Gabbard previously shared a heartfelt message on social media as the couple headed to the hospital for surgery. 
“We are humbled and so grateful to be surrounded by aloha during this really tough time,” she said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
We are getting ready to head to the hospital for my husband’s surgery and just wanted to say thank you so much to all of who have shared messages, prayers and well wishes for Abraham. We are humbled and so grateful to be surrounded by aloha during this really tough time. 🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/EpDcRqv8FV">pic.twitter.com/EpDcRqv8FV</a>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2061788108727705658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
In May, Gabbard <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-from-trump-admin?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Reacts+To+Tulsi+Gabbard%E2%80%99s+Surprise+Resignation">announced she was stepping down</a> to support her husband through a battle with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”
“My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” she wrote. “He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” 
<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116619437706453945">On Truth Social,</a> President Trump praised Gabbard for doing “an incredible job.”
Vice President Vance called her a “patriot” and a “great asset” to the White House.
“I’m sorry to see her go, but certainly understand that family comes first. She and her husband Abraham, will be in my prayers as they face this next challenge together, and she has my gratitude for being a great addition to the administration and a loyal confidante,” he said. “Godspeed Tulsi!”
In 2024, Gabbard, a former Hawaii Democratic Congresswoman, made waves when she crossed over to support President Trump’s re-election campaign. Her last day is expected to be June 30.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-taps-familiar-name-to-replace-tulsi-gabbard?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Taps+Familiar+Name+To+Replace+Tulsi+Gabbard">The White House on Tuesday</a> tapped Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William J. “Bill” Pulte to fill the role.

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Tulsi Gabbard Shares Major Update On Husband’s Condition

Cancer

News

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William J. &#8220;Bill&#8221; Pulte to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard&#8217;s resignation last month.
Pulte, a staunch Trump ally with a reputation for aggressive institutional cleanups, will pull double duty, maintaining his current role leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
&#8220;William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116680659724813616">said</a>, praising Pulte for a &#8220;substantial increase&#8221; in housing market health over the last 12 months.
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Pulte replaces Gabbard, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-tulsi-gabbard-plans-to-reveal-before-leaving-office?utm_source=chatgpt.com">announced her resignation</a> on May 22 to support her husband through a battle with a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard will officially step down at the end of June.
Gabbard’s 16-month tenure as America’s top spy chief has been highly consequential. Dubbed &#8220;ODNI 2.0,&#8221; her restructuring slashed the agency by 40%, saving taxpayers $700 million annually, while declassifying over 500,000 pages of withheld records  — including files exposing how the Obama administration weaponized intelligence during the &#8220;Russia Hoax.&#8221;
Before she departs on June 30, Gabbard plans to drop weekly, high-profile investigative findings on Havana Syndrome, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the weaponization of the federal government.
Pulte is no stranger to taking on Washington&#8217;s most entrenched political actors. Since being sworn into the FHFA in March 2025, Pulte has used his platform to root out alleged financial misconduct, zeroing in on key Democrats who previously targeted President Trump.
Among his biggest scalps is New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud case against Trump. After an FHFA referral by Pulte, James was indicted on federal bank and mortgage fraud charges in Virginia. Pulte applied the same tactic to Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), a lead prosecutor in Trump’s first impeachment trial, referring Schiff to the Department of Justice for alleged mortgage fraud.
The grandson of legendary homebuilder William J. Pulte — who built PulteGroup into a Fortune 500 titan — the younger Pulte forged his own multi-million-dollar path in private equity.
Pulte is widely recognized for his unique philanthropic efforts. In 2013, he launched the widely-praised Blight Authority, a non-profit that successfully cleared urban decay and demolished abandoned properties to restore neighborhood safety in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan. He later achieved massive fame on social media as a pioneer of &#8220;Twitter Philanthropy,&#8221; directly handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to everyday Americans for medical bills, food, and emergencies.

Trump Taps Familiar Name To Replace Tulsi Gabbard

A Gold Star wife&#8217;s simple Memorial Day request sparked an outpouring of support from Americans, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-from-trump-admin">outgoing</a> Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 
It all started on Sunday, when Sharrell Anne Shaw posted a message on X, asking whether anyone visiting Arlington National Cemetery could stop by her late husband&#8217;s grave and share a photo. 
“This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in DC this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60,” she wrote. 
Shaw identified her husband as Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw of B Co 1/12 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.
The responses started flooding in, with many people promising to visit the grave or honor Shaw&#8217;s sacrifice on Memorial Day. 
Several, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, shared photos of themselves visiting the grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
“It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects,&#8221; Gabbard wrote. &#8220;Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones… <a href="https://t.co/GWx11xlecF">pic.twitter.com/GWx11xlecF</a>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2058975663160226185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shaw responded by thanking Gabbard for honoring her husband.
“Seeing you standing there at his grave honestly brought me to tears,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Thank you for honoring Alan, for saying his name, and for reminding me that there are still people in this country who have not forgotten the cost of freedom.”
On Monday, Shaw reflected on the viral response to the outpouring of support from everyone who honored her request.
“Last night, I made a simple request on X,” she posted. “I asked if anybody visiting Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day would stop by Alan’s grave and leave a photo for our family. What happened next honestly caught me off guard.”
“By this afternoon, dozens of Americans from all walks of life had made the walk to Section 60 to visit SSG Alan W. Shaw. Veterans. Families,” she said. “Complete strangers. People who had never met Alan, but chose to honor him anyway&#8230; For one day on social media, people put aside the constant noise and negativity and came together for something bigger than themselves. My notifications filled with photos, kind messages, prayers, and stories from people honoring not just Alan, but so many of our fallen heroes. I don’t think people fully understand what moments like this mean to Gold Star families.&#8221;
Staff Sgt. Shaw was killed in action in Iraq on February 9, 2007. 
In a separate Memorial Day post, Sharrell Shaw reflected on the holiday&#8217;s meaning for Gold Star families.
“Memorial Day will always mean more to our family than cookouts or a long weekend,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;It’s the sound of boots on concrete. The weight of a folded flag in shaking hands. Three children growing up with memories instead of a father.”
She added, “But over the years, I’ve also realized something else. The men we honor today did not give everything so America would sit in mourning forever. They believed in life. In freedom. In family. In backyard barbecues, ballgames, loud laughter, and the simple privilege of being home.”
“So yes, remember them. Speak their names. Teach your children who they were. Fly the flag. Visit the cemetery. And then live.”

Arlington National Cemetary

Tulsi Gabbard Visits Fallen Soldier’s Grave After Gold Star Wife’s Viral Request

Iraq War

Memorial Day

Military

Soldiers

WASHINGTON— Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard plans to release findings from a number of high-profile investigations before she departs her role as President Donald Trump&#8217;s spy chief, The Daily Wire has learned.
Gabbard announced Friday that she will resign, sharing that her husband is battling “an extremely rare form of bone cancer&#8221; and that she must &#8220;step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” She will remain in her position until June 30, an intelligence official confirmed to The Daily Wire.
Before departing, Gabbard intends to release findings tied to investigations into Havana Syndrome, formally known as Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), the COVID-19 pandemic, the weaponization of the federal government, the 2020 presidential election, and more, according to the official. These findings will likely be released in weekly installments over the next month.
Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence following her departure, President Donald Trump announced on Friday.
“Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th,&#8221; he shared. &#8220;Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together.&#8221;
&#8220;I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her.&#8221;
Gabbard served 15 months in her role as Director of National Intelligence, working to transform the intelligence community and restore public trust through reforms, many declassifications, aggressive transparency, revoking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-yanks-security-clearances-of-37-intel-officials-over-russiagate-abused-the-public-trust">security clearances of intel officials</a> who &#8220;abused public trust,&#8221; ditching DEI programs, and targeting foreign terrorist organizations.
A second intelligence official told The Daily Wire that Gabbard oversaw the declassification of more than 500,000 pages of previously withheld government records as of May 2026. Her &#8220;ODNI 2.0&#8221; restructuring initiative also reduced agency bloat by more than 40%, saving taxpayers an estimated $700 million per year.
Her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-tulsi-gabbard-rfk-assassination-files">declassifications included</a> records tied to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., along with files related to Amelia Earhart&#8217;s disappearance and Biden administration documents outlining the federal government&#8217;s &#8220;Strategic Implementation Plan for Countering Domestic Terrorism.&#8221;
She has also aggressively worked to highlight the truths behind the &#8220;Russia Hoax&#8221; and how President Barack Obama&#8217;s administration weaponized intelligence to undermine Trump&#8217;s 2016 election victory.
Earlier this year, Gabbard&#8217;s office announced that she had completed the largest intelligence community-wide &#8220;technology and cybersecurity modernization and investment effort&#8221; in American history.
“Over the past year, we have taken meaningful steps to begin fulfilling that responsibility through the largest IC-wide technology investment and modernization effort in history,&#8221; Gabbard said at the time. &#8220;President Trump&#8217;s Intelligence Community is moving faster and more decisively on cybersecurity modernization and investments in IT than ever before, delivering stronger defenses, greater efficiency, and real cost savings for the American people.&#8221;
The Trump administration could face an uphill battle to get another Director of National Intelligence confirmed, given that the current bickering between the president and Senate Republicans has been escalated by Trump&#8217;s endorsements against Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
In the interim, Gabbard says she is focused on ensuring a smooth transition at ODNI.
“I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks so that you and your team experience no disruption in leadership or momentum,” she wrote in her letter to Trump.
&#8220;It has been a profound honor to serve the American people as DNI.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Gabbard Drops Mention Of Iran Uranium Enrichment In Testimony

Here’s What Tulsi Gabbard Plans To Reveal Before Leaving Office

2020 Election

Havana Syndrome

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is resigning, The Daily Wire confirmed Friday.  
In her letter of resignation, obtained by The Daily Wire, Gabbard said she is stepping down to support her husband through a battle with &#8220;an extremely rare form of bone cancer.&#8221;
&#8220;My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.&#8221; 
The spy chief said that under the Trump administration, the ODNI advanced “unprecedented transparency” and restored “integrity to the intelligence community.”
&#8220;I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks so that you and your team experience no disruption in leadership or momentum,&#8221; she wrote.
<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116619437706453945">On Truth Social,</a> President Trump reacted to the news and praised Gabbard for doing &#8220;an incredible job.&#8221;
&#8220;Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.&#8221;
Vice President Vance called Tulsi a &#8220;patriot&#8221; and a &#8220;great asset&#8221; to the White House.
&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry to see her go, but certainly understand that family comes first. She and her husband Abraham will be in my prayers as they face this next challenge together, and she has my gratitude for being a great addition to the administration and a loyal confidante,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Godspeed Tulsi!&#8221;
In 2024, Gabbard made waves when she flipped parties to support President Donald Trump&#8217;s re-election campaign. 
Her last day is expected to be June 30.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard

Trump Reacts To Tulsi Gabbard’s Surprise Resignation

Since Tulsi Gabbard&#8217;s arrival on the political scene in Washington, D.C., she has proven to be a force against the unrestricted power of the deep state. Her appointment as Director of National Intelligence was a statement by President Trump about his commitment and trust in her to bring transformative change to the office. Gabbard&#8217;s role became one focused on accountability, declassification, and efficiency — cutting a bloated staff, riling the intelligence agencies who balked at her reforms, and serving as a loyal advocate for the president&#8217;s agenda.
Today, she met with President Trump to inform him of her decision to resign. The reason in this case is deeply personal and presents a tragic challenge: her husband, Abraham, has been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. His treatment will force her family to embark on another mission, a fight that requires her full attention.
Read Tulsi Gabbard&#8217;s letter to the president below:
&nbsp;
Tulsi Gabbard
Director of National Intelligence
[May 22, 2026]
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half.
Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.
Abraham has been my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage — standing steadfast through my deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission, multiple political campaigns, and now my service in this role. His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge. I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.
While we have made significant progress at the ODNI — advancing unprecedented transparency and restoring integrity to the intelligence community — I recognize there is still important work to be done. I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks so that you and your team experience no disruption in leadership or momentum.
Thank you for your understanding during this deeply personal and difficult time for our family. I will remain forever grateful to you and to the American people for the profound honor of serving our nation as DNI.
With love and aloha,
Tulsi Gabbard
Director of National Intelligence
&#8212;

Gov. Ron DeSantis Visits “Hannity”

Read Tulsi Gabbard’s Heartfelt Letter On Why She Chose To Resign

I do not personally know Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, so I cannot speak to his character or private motives. But as someone who has publicly claimed friendship with Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, I find it hard to see how detonating an <a href="https://x.com/C__Herridge/status/2034050521359634577?s=20">atomic bomb</a> on the eve of her testimony before Congress served anyone other than himself.
I sat next to Kent during Gabbard’s confirmation hearing before Congress last year as she showed the United States, our allies, and our adversaries exactly why she was capable of leading the greatest intelligence operation in the world. She handled herself with dignity and with the kind of steady resolve shown by someone who deeply desired to serve her country.
Kent, seated just behind her, wore a Hawaiian lei in a visible show of support for her leadership, her loyalty, and her judgment. That’s why his choice to resign publicly, and to communicate his dissent the way he did, raises an obvious question: where was that support for his friend when it mattered most?
Director Gabbard, for her part, got it exactly right. She has consistently pushed for exhausting diplomacy, but she also made clear that <a href="https://x.com/DNIGabbard/status/2033989780116033948?s=20">the president</a> is the one who decides what qualifies as a viable threat. That is how this works. A political appointee provides an assessment; the commander in chief makes the call. The Trump administration made its call based on the threat Iran posed to Americans and to our way of life.
And that is part of what makes Washington so maddening. This city is full of people who talk endlessly about loyalty, friendship, and principle, then abandon all three the moment public positioning becomes more useful. D.C. has earned its reputation as a town crowded with failed theater kids who routinely avoid demonstrating integrity or loyalty.
Again, I won’t pretend to know Mr. Kent’s intentions in releasing his letter, but his assessment contradicts both his own past <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/1214960125200330752?s=20">statements</a> and the views of experts who have spent their lives studying the Middle East. People are free to change their minds, but that usually comes through deeper learning and self-correction. This does not seem to be that. I was not in the room for the threat discussions he now struggles to identify, though he seems to have no trouble tweeting about them, but I have studied Iran closely. And while I do not speak Farsi, I am confident “death to America” is not a warm salutation.
Isolationists fail to grasp a basic reality: this is not utopia. Our enemies, animated by a deep-seated hatred for everything America stands for, cannot be escorted hand-in-hand to peace and partnership. Meeting a threat on their doorstep is not a distraction from protecting the homeland — it is how you keep that threat from reaching ours.
The idea of shuttering our borders completely, allowing no one in or out, is both absurd and self-defeating. The world does not work that way. Plus, I would still like to plan my dream vacation to the South of France, for one thing, and for another, America would not have the power it now has to defend itself if it embraced that kind of isolation.
We are now 18 days into a military operation targeting a threat that has been at our doorstep for far too long. All Americans should support our warfighters and those standing with us against a regime that has terrorized the United States, our allies, our values, and its own people. We also have a duty to ask what our tax dollars are funding and why; questioning is good, because you learn things when you do.
Mr. Kent has every right, as a private citizen and taxpayer, to question and disagree with a military action. But the purpose of questioning is to educate, not to diminish American agency. The reflexive habit of crediting Israel, a nation the size of New Jersey, for every major policy decision made by the president of the United States undermines America’s military strength, economic power, and the very intelligence capabilities Mr. Kent supported. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best: it had to be done.
To be clear, Iran’s leadership is the world’s number one sponsor of terrorism, a regime directly responsible for the loss of thousands of American lives. A regime that regularly murders its own people en masse and shuts down the internet for its 90 million citizens, cutting them off from telling the rest of the world the truth. A regime that bombs its own neighbors in the Middle East, just because it can. This is the same regime that sent representatives to the illegal, non-democratic swearing-in ceremony of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. A regime that aligns closely with China and Russia in order to enforce authoritarian rule throughout the world and displace American influence. Failing to recognize the imminent threat Iran poses to Americans is either a severe misunderstanding of the danger or an intentional deflection.
Joe Kent’s public <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/2033897242986209689?s=20">resignation letter</a> places him on a growing list of people whose judgment I have found deeply disappointing. Why? It is disappointing for several reasons. It is disappointing because Kent once spoke <a href="https://x.com/mtracey/status/2033955443010080897?s=20">clearly</a> about the <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/1840425323743395853?s=20">threat Iran</a> poses to the <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/1838963575320412395?s=20">United States</a>, only to now cloud that reality. It is disappointing because, until yesterday, he occupied a high-consequence role charged with protecting the homeland from major threats, which makes his sudden uncertainty confusing. And it is disappointing because, at this moment, during an ongoing conflict, his public dissent undermines America’s national security posture and, in turn, the safety of the warfighters carrying out the mission.
* * *
Taylor Hathorn is a foreign policy and national security analyst specializing in U.S. defense strategy, Iran and China policy, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risk. She serves as a National Security Fellow with the Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security and an Iran Policy Fellow with The Hamilton Society/Public Interest Fellowship. As a Gold Star sister, she is committed to policies supporting veterans and military families and frequently speaks on national security issues affecting service members and their families. She has appeared on NEWSMAX and PBS, and her writing can be found in The Hill, RealClearDefense, RealClearWorld, Townhall, and Evie Magazine. Follow her on X @taylorhathorn.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

House Homeland Security Committee Hearing On Worldwide Threats

Joe Kent Built His Reputation On Iran Warnings — What Changed?

Iran

Joe Kent

Middle East

National Security

Opinion

Washington D.C.

Joe Kent has resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. He should never have had the job to begin with. 
Kent <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/2033897242986209689/photo/1">explained</a> in his resignation letter that he believes Iran posed “no imminent threat to our nation” and that Israel with the help of Israel’s powerful “lobby” is behind the United States “starting” the war. 
These galling, fact-defying claims reveal Kent’s belief in a crank evil conspiracy about Israel and the “Israel lobby,” i.e., the Jews, controlling American foreign policy. It is exceptionally concerning that it was his job to protect the American people from terrorism and he discounts the role Iran plays in threatening the American people as the leading sponsor of terrorism globally. The regime funds, equips, and trains Islamist proxies throughout the Middle East to harass global shipping and attack Americans and our allies. Iran is directly responsible for the maiming and killing of hundreds of Americans since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Kent’s resignation could have simply stated he does not personally support the war and that his conscience prevents him from continued public service. Instead, he used the position from which he resigned to provide him credibility in an effort to undermine Trump, public support for the war, and the success of the war effort. 
There are two critical points to understand in all of this.
One, the political ecosystem that Kent decided to align with, and which supported his rise to influence within the MAGA coalition over the last several years, includes Nick Fuentes and his followers, the so-called Groypers. Nick Fuentes told Tucker Carlson <a href="https://x.com/moymiz/status/2033974462635512061?s=46&amp;t=lyk8m90xboRd4ImqIJ-GGA">a few months ago</a> on his podcast that he spoke with Joe Kent and supported him and his failed congressional campaign. Fuentes also said that Kent’s campaign manager bought a table at Fuentes’ event and introduced Fuentes to Kent. According to National Review reporter Audrey Fahlberg, Joe Kent’s former campaign manager acknowledged sending texts referring to Jews as “f*c*ing ki*es” and writing “heil f*cking Kent” and “allah f*cking akbar.” Kent also <a href="https://x.com/RichWWilliams/status/2033986403982581852?s=20">publicly aligned</a> with Fuentes when he launched his unsuccessful campaign. All of this is public information and did not prevent him from attaining a senior job in the administration. 
How many more people are serving in the Trump administration share these views or are sympathetic to them? Since Hamas carried out the worst attack on the Jews since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023, the United States has experienced a spike in open antisemitism and expressions of sympathy towards Islamist terrorists. College campuses have been awash with organized protesters chanting “from the river to the sea” and other genocidal slogans against the Jewish people. Since the initiation of Operation Epic Fury, there have been four terrorist attacks here at home: a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/suspect-in-texas-bar-shooting-wore-property-of-allah-clothing-and-iranian-flag-emblem-according-to-ap-source">shooting </a>at a bar in Austin, an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/15/new-york-mamdani-teen-suspects">attempted bombing </a>in New York City, an <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/14/us/michigan-synagogue-attack-hnk">attack </a>on the Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan, and a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/15/us/mohamed-bailor-jalloh-old-dominion">shooting </a>at Old Dominion University in Virginia. 
This is a time to clearly and decisively marginalize those who traffic in antisemitic views, not elevate them and place them in positions of authority. 
Two, Dana Loesch said it well when she noted that those circling the wagons for Kent’s stand against Operation Epic Fury are not only undermining President Trump now, they are “power-jockeying for 2028.” They insist that Trump betrayed them in taking joint action with Israel in Operation Midnight Hammer to degrade Iran’s nuclear program, and again now in Operation Epic Fury to dismantle the Iranian regime’s ability to threaten the United States and its allies. They ignore the long pattern of Trump’s support for Israel as a valued and highly capable ally, which was a hallmark of his first term. And, they ignore Trump’s support for a world-class military — he recently said he supports a $1.5 trillion defense budget, which would commit the United States to 5% of GDP on defense spending, matching his demands for the rest of NATO — designed not to retreat and pull up the proverbial drawbridge, but to project power across the globe to defend its declared vital interests in the Middle East, Europe, and Indo-Pacific. 
Additionally, they discounted Trump’s willingness in his first term to use military force to destroy the ISIS caliphate and other Iranian leaders and proxies sprawled across the Middle East. They also ignore Trump’s decades-long view that the Islamic Republic could not have a viable nuclear weapon, and that military action was a plausible and legitimate course of action if Iran refused to willingly dismantle its illicit program. Trump did not betray them. They simply could not manipulate Trump into becoming what they are.
Tucker Carlson is already planning to host Joe Kent on his podcast today (Wednesday). We should expect them to try to galvanize more opposition to President Trump’s efforts in Iran. They may be mad about not having power and influence on policy now, but we should expect this pernicious effort to continue into election season where they hope to have better luck.
* * *
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative. She specializes in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Joe Kent Never Should Have Had This Job

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