Trump Cuts CIA, NSA Staff and Dismantles DEI Programs

The Trump administration is carrying out major staffing reductions at the CIA, NSA, and other intelligence agencies, eliminating about 1,200 positions at the CIA and thousands more across the intelligence community primarily through attrition and reduced hiring. CIA Director John Ratcliffe is leading the effort, framing it as a realignment with the administration’s national security and budgetary priorities, with a particular emphasis on China and human intelligence. The administration has also dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within these agencies, resulting in many departures, though some DEI staff dismissals have been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Critics and former officers warn that these moves risk weakening U.S. intelligence capabilities and undoing decades of progress, particularly by reducing diversity that benefits espionage and recruitment. The changes remain controversial and subject to ongoing legal challenges. Debate continues over whether the reforms will ultimately strengthen or undermine U.S. security interests.