New: Skeptical of ODNI from day one, intel veterans are spooked by Trump's efforts to politicize an office they never wanted—an office w/ a grip on the PDB, whistleblowing & source protection, and broad discretion over the IC’s responsiveness to Congress. politico.com/news/2020/03/0…
ODNI has been most effective as a day-to-day manager focusing on bureaucratic and budgeting issues, giving agencies freedom to focus on core missions. But its authorities can easily veer into the political and revive friction that plagued its relationship with the IC early on.
If confirmed, Ratcliffe will have to allay concerns about politicization of intel during an election year & strike a delicate balance between Trump, who is seeking to rein in the so-called “deep state,” and intel agencies that have long resisted any perceived overreach from ODNI.
