CIA and FBI Resist Trump Order for Master Spy List

Donald Trump has directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to compile a master list of all foreign intelligence targets, including secret agents, potential recruits, and international criminal groups. The administration cites National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, arguing that a centralized database will improve inter-agency coordination and prevent different agencies from targeting the same assets.

Leaders at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are resisting the mandate. Senior counterintelligence officials warn that consolidating compartmentalized data into a single list creates catastrophic risks, as a single leak could fatally compromise long-running covert operations and endanger agents in the field.

The initiative was initially spearheaded by former ODNI director Tulsi Gabbard and is currently managed by acting director Bill Pulte. Intelligence officials have expressed concern over Pulte's lack of national security experience and his appointment as acting director to bypass Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, Trump has nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Jay Clayton as the permanent Director of National Intelligence, pending Senate approval.