The CIA has stopped contributing to some intelligence assessments produced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The move follows rising disputes over intelligence sharing and agency roles inside the US intelligence community.
The disagreement between the CIA and ODNI has continued for more than a year. It has disrupted cooperation on key national security assessments that US presidents rely on for foreign policy decisions. A US official and three people with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the development.
Sources said the conflict intensified after ODNI Director Tulsi Gabbard created a task force in April 2025 called the Director’s Initiatives Group. The CIA, led by Director John Ratcliffe, raised concerns over the group’s methods and accused it of bypassing standard intelligence-sharing rules.
CIA officials said the group ignored established declassification and coordination procedures. ODNI officials, however, said the CIA restricted access to intelligence needed for its work.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time for the United States. The country faces ongoing security challenges, including tensions with Iran, China’s military expansion, and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts say the breakdown risks weakening coordination across intelligence agencies.
Experts note that reforms after the September 11 attacks created ODNI to improve cooperation among 18 intelligence agencies. However, the current conflict suggests continued friction in the system.
Former intelligence officials say ODNI should coordinate analysis and remove barriers between agencies. Instead, they warn that growing mistrust could push agencies back into isolated operations and increase the risk of intelligence failures.
Despite the dispute, CIA officials say the agency continues to share intelligence through other channels, including the President’s Daily Brief, which remains a key source for policymakers.
ODNI spokeswoman Olivia Coleman said agencies continue to cooperate daily. She said intelligence sharing remains active across multiple channels.
The tension has also led to internal changes, including leadership shifts and investigations within ODNI. Officials say oversight bodies are now reviewing parts of the dispute as concerns over politicization and access to intelligence continue to grow.
