Tulsi Gabbard targets press, leakers as national intelligence director

Incident Details

Date of Incident: April 23, 2025
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: HuffPost, Media, NBC News, The Record, The Washington Post

Chilling Statement

April 23, 2025

Shortly after President Donald Trump’s second term began, Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, joined Trump in taking steps to intimidate leakers and news outlets that have covered him and his administration unfavorably. We’re documenting her efforts in this regularly updated report.

Read about how Trump’s appointees and allies in Congress are striving to chill reporting, revoke funding, censor critical coverage and more here.

This article was first published on March 14, 2025.

April 23, 2025 | Intelligence director announces referral of leakers to Justice Department

March 14, 2025 | Investigation opened into media leaks from U.S. spy agencies

April 23, 2025 | Intelligence director announces referral of leakers to Justice Department

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard announced on April 23, 2025, that she had referred two individuals to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution for allegedly leaking to the press.

“These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine POTUS’ agenda,” Gabbard wrote. “I look forward to working with @TheJusticeDept and @FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.”

Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Today, I referred two intelligence community LEAKS…
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) April 23, 2025

Gabbard and her deputy chief of staff also noted that a third criminal referral was imminent.

The Washington Post reported that such referrals are common when classified information is published by the press, and the DOJ then decides whether to investigate or pursue criminal charges.

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March 14, 2025 | Investigation opened into media leaks from U.S. spy agencies

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, announced on March 14, 2025, that the Trump administration will aggressively investigate the source of leaks from U.S. intelligence agencies to members of the media.

In posts on the social platform X, Gabbard cited recent reports by HuffPost, The Washington Post, NBC News and The Record as examples of such “politically motivated leaks.” She added that the leaks “undermine our national security and the trust of the American people, and will not be tolerated.”

The New York Times reported that, while Gabbard promised action against the leakers and not the newsrooms that publish it, it signals an effort to chill national security reporting.

“Leak investigations threaten the free flow of information that the public needs to hold the government accountable, especially in the national security context,” Bruce Brown, the president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, told the Times. “This is true from administration to administration.”

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The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].