“This administration, this president owns it if 702 goes dark, by throwing a live hand grenade into a controversial bill that was on a path to three years of reauthorization.
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“Does anybody think it makes good sense to give them the keys to the 18 intelligence agencies, not just on 702, but across the board? I don't know how — I don't see a path forward, regardless of what I do, on how you convince the necessary Democrats, because listen, there's plenty of Republicans who don't want this renewed.
“The concern is not only that Mr. Pulte lacks the 'extensive national security experience' required by statute for the job — it is that he appears to have been selected precisely because the White House believes he will provide the narrative it wants, not the intelligence we need.
“My thoughts are with Tulsi Gabbard and her family as her husband battles cancer... The Director of National Intelligence is entrusted with one of the most serious responsibilities in government: providing objective, fact-based intelligence to policymakers and the American people. At a time when the boundaries between verified intelligence and politically convenient claims have been blurred, it is critical that the office remain grounded in facts, independence, and the rule of law.
“I don't understand how blockading the strait is somehow going to push the Iranians into opening it. The Strait of Hormuz was open before this war started. Gas in Virginia was $2.81 forty days ago and is over $4 now. Even if the president declares victory tomorrow, those high gas prices will be with us for months.
“This is a deeply consequential decision that risks pulling the U.S. into a broader conflict.
“For decades, our nonpartisan civil service has set us apart from other countries and enabled us to have stability and continuity no matter who is in the White House. The Trump Administration's move to reclassify federal employees to make it easier to fire them for political reasons will hurt these workers and their families, threaten our national security, and make it harder for Americans to access the services they need. If we want to continue to lead the world, then we must have a federal workforce based on merit, not politics.
“It is difficult to trust that any Chair of the Federal Reserve selected by this president will be able to act with the independence required of the position, knowing that this administration will levy charges against any leader who makes interest rate decisions based on facts and the needs of our economy rather than Trump's personal preferences.