A Georgetown University professor, Dr. John Gentry, who spent 12 years as a CIA intelligence analyst, is raising concerns about the politicization of the intelligence community and its potential impact on the upcoming 2024 election. Gentry, author of the book “Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences,” believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within intelligence agencies have become a significant problem.
According to Gentry, the so-called “deep state” within the intelligence community may reemerge, with former intelligence officers becoming politically active, particularly if a Republican candidate is perceived as a threat to internal policies favored by intelligence professionals.
According to Fox News, Gentry, points to the 2020 election, where 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story, calling it a “Russian information operation.” He deems this as a clear example of political bias within the intelligence community, aimed at benefiting the Biden campaign.
The professor argues that DEI policies introduced in recent decades have shifted the focus of intelligence agencies away from their core operations to a more politically driven agenda. He identifies former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper as key drivers of this shift, supporting Obama-era initiatives to transform the federal workforce.
Gentry contends that DEI and politicization have negatively impacted morale among intelligence professionals, creating divisions among those who support such policies and those who don’t. He suggests that this environment may lead to a reemergence of political activism within the intelligence community during the 2024 election.
In response, CIA Director William Burns acknowledged the challenge of preventing politicization within the intelligence community, emphasizing the importance of providing unbiased intelligence, even when inconvenient for policymakers. Gentry’s book aims to shed light on the political issues within intelligence agencies, highlighting the potential consequences for future elections.
