(DailyVantage.com) – The inspectors general for the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) are resigning their positions as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. According to the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), these departures mark some of the first high-profile exits from federal watchdog roles ahead of the new administration, signaling potential shakeups within the intelligence community.
Outgoing ODNI Inspector General Thomas Monheim and CIA Inspector General Robin Ashton, both appointed during President Joe Biden’s term, have chosen to step down. Monheim initially took over in 2020 after Trump dismissed his predecessor, Michael Atkinson, who played a role in transmitting a whistleblower complaint that contributed to Trump’s first impeachment. Ashton, meanwhile, was confirmed to her role in 2021 after years of service in senior legal positions at the Department of Justice.
Trump’s incoming administration has emphasized its intention to reform federal agencies and combat perceived overreach within the so-called “administrative state.” To spearhead these efforts, Trump has nominated John Ratcliffe, who previously served as Director of National Intelligence under his administration, to lead the CIA. Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an outspoken critic of the Biden administration and recent Republican convert, is Trump’s pick to head the ODNI.
Inspectors general are responsible for overseeing and reporting misconduct within their respective agencies. Their work often gains heightened importance when the executive branch and Congress are controlled by the same party, as oversight mechanisms are otherwise reduced. Critics have raised concerns that these roles can become politicized, citing instances of inspectors general navigating contentious political climates in past administrations.
The broader context of these resignations ties into Trump’s promise to reduce the influence of what he calls the “deep state.” This term refers to unelected bureaucratic entities, such as the national security apparatus, that critics argue have amassed unchecked power, often bypassing the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
The intelligence community has faced allegations of political bias in recent years, including claims of interference during the 2020 election cycle. Notably, 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter suggesting that Hunter Biden’s laptop—now widely acknowledged as authentic—was likely part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Reports later revealed the letter’s origins as a strategy to bolster Biden’s candidacy.
With these departures, Trump’s administration is expected to pursue aggressive reforms within the intelligence agencies, aiming to restore public trust and align operations with its broader “America First” agenda.
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