FBI Opposes House Proposal Giving Tulsi Gabbard Counterintelligence Lead

A contentious proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to transfer lead counterintelligence authority from the FBI to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), led by Tulsi Gabbard. The FBI strongly opposes this shift, warning in a sharply worded letter to Congress that it would cause confusion, undermine national security, and disrupt decades of established counterintelligence expertise. The FBI emphasized its extensive experience through 53 field offices and expressed concern that decision-making would be handed to individuals lacking direct involvement in counterintelligence operations. This power struggle highlights ongoing tensions between Gabbard and other intelligence officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and the CIA, particularly due to Gabbard's previous unilateral actions on security clearances. Despite the opposition, Gabbard's office supports the proposal, which remains a major sticking point in negotiations over the Intelligence Authorization Act, with the Senate version not including the transfer of authority. Both the FBI and ODNI publicly stated their commitment to collaborating with Congress to enhance counterintelligence efforts, even as debate continues over the potential risks and impacts of the bill.