President Donald Trump’s administration is slamming the brakes on sharing sensitive intelligence with Congress after a leak exposed a less-than-stellar report on Iran’s bombed nuclear sites. The move, sparked by a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, signals a growing distrust of Capitol Hill’s ability to keep secrets, as Axios reports. It’s a bold, if contentious, step to protect national security from loose lips.
Following Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a DIA report suggested the damage was minimal, contradicting Trump’s claims of a decisive blow. This preliminary assessment, compiled in just 24 hours using satellite imagery, was shared with Congress via CAPNET on Monday. By Tuesday, snippets appeared in CNN and the New York Times, claiming Iran’s nuclear program was delayed by mere months.
The administration’s plan to restrict classified briefings has Democrats crying foul, already miffed about being left in the dark before the bombings. Four Axios sources confirmed the White House’s intent to tighten the flow of intelligence, with the FBI now probing the leak. Congress’s leaky track record isn’t exactly inspiring confidence.
The DIA’s “Battle Damage Assessment” admitted its “low confidence” findings, meant to guide decisions on further strikes, not to fuel media narratives. Yet, as one administration source quipped, “Go figure: Almost as soon as we put the information on CAPNET, it leaks.” The speed of the breach suggests some in Congress prioritize headlines over security.
Trump’s long-standing skepticism of the intelligence community, dating back to the 2016 Russia probe, has only deepened with this incident. An adviser noted, “Trump knows the IC has spooks who hate his guts.” Tuesday’s leak fanned those flames, reinforcing his belief that “Deep State” actors are out to undermine him.
At a Wednesday NATO press conference, Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Sen. Marco Rubio, pushed back hard against the media’s spin. Rubio scoffed, “All this stuff about the intelligence: This is what a leaker is telling you.” He accused critics of twisting raw data to fit their anti-Trump agenda.
A senior White House official declared, “We are declaring a war on leakers,” signaling a no-nonsense approach to future breaches. The FBI’s investigation aims to root out those responsible, while the intelligence community scrambles to tighten CAPNET’s security. The message is clear: leaks won’t be tolerated, period.
Israeli intelligence, unlike the DIA’s early snapshot, assessed the strikes as causing “very significant” damage to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s head echoed this, aligning with Trump’s narrative of a major setback. The contrast highlights the DIA report’s limitations, which include being rushed and lacking ground-level insight.
The media’s rush to amplify the DIA’s tentative findings plays into the hands of Iran, which benefits from any perception of resilience. CNN and the New York Times, by broadcasting “low confidence” intel, handed Tehran a propaganda win. It’s the kind of reckless reporting that fuels Trump’s distrust of the press.
Democrats’ complaints about reduced briefings ring hollow when their ranks can’t keep classified data under wraps. The administration’s move to limit sharing is less about spite and more about safeguarding sensitive operations. Congress might want to clean house before demanding more access.
The DIA report, one of 18 intelligence agencies’ takes, was never meant for public consumption. Its leak underscores why Trump’s team hesitates to share with a Congress prone to grandstanding. As one source put it, “There’s no reason to do this again.”
Trump’s critics argue he’s overreacting, but the stakes -- national security, Iran’s nuclear threat -- hardly allow for leniency. The administration’s frustration is palpable, with Hegseth and Rubio reinforcing that the strikes hit Iran hard. Downplaying their impact only emboldens adversaries.
The intelligence community’s “low confidence” snapshot shouldn’t have defined the narrative, yet leakers ensured it did. Rubio nailed it: “They read it and then they go out and characterize it the way they want.” Such selective leaks distort the truth for political points.
This episode will likely harden Trump’s resolve to bypass Congress on sensitive matters. With Iran’s nuclear program still a global concern, the administration can’t afford distractions from disloyal insiders. The FBI’s probe better yield results, or trust will erode further.
Ultimately, the leak controversy exposes a deeper rift between Trump and a Congress that seems more interested in scoring points than securing the nation. Limiting classified briefings may spark backlash, but it’s a pragmatic response to a broken system. America’s enemies are watching -- Congress should act like it.
