Experts, lawmakers and former federal officials expressed deep concerns about the Trump administration’s decision to discontinue in-person briefings for Congress regarding election security threats, saying the move undermines transparency and electoral confidence at a critical time.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe informed Congress on Friday that his office will no longer provide the briefings on election security matters and will instead provide written updates. CNN first reported the change on Saturday. Ratcliffe’s edict comes just two months ahead of Election Day, with Russia, China and Iran all intent on influencing the outcome, according to a recent statement by National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina. Ratcliffe––who was confirmed in May following controversy over his qualifications––justified the decision as a way to prevent leaks and said the new method will meet statutory requirements. However, the change was met with criticism and concern by many.
“Oversight isn't always pretty, but it's vital to ensuring public trust in secret agencies,” tweeted Amy Zegart, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies. “The essence of oversight is dialog, the asking and answering of questions. That just went out the window.”
Jake Laperruque, senior counsel at the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight’s “Constitution Project,” told Government Executive on Monday the move is the “latest escalation of a pattern from ODNI where they seem to be unwilling ..
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