Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell rebuffed House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff’s request for details on his reorganization of intelligence community agencies in a sharply worded letter.
Grenell wrote to Schiff Tuesday in response to a letter from the California Democrat earlier this month. In that letter, Schiff wrote that Grenell making changes that impact the national security apparatus would be inappropriate, as he was not confirmed to his position by the Senate.
Grenell has not been nominated for the full-time position, instead only serving in an interim capacity. President Trump nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to the position in February.
“President Trump did not nominate you for confirmation as permanent DNI, and it would be inappropriate for you to pursue any additional leadership, organizational, or staffing changes to ODNI during your temporary tenure,” Schiff wrote in his initial April 7 letter.
Grenell, an openly gay Trump ally who previously served as US ambassador to Germany, wrote back, chiding Schiff for neglecting to acknowledge the diverse leadership being embraced in the IC, including the appointment of two women as acting leaders of the National Counterterrorism Center, according to the letter obtained by Politico.
“Diversity of the IC workforce should always be celebrated, and I am proud that we increased diversity within the ODNI’s senior ranks, to include more women and members of the LGBT community,” he wrote.
The acting DNI went on to tell Schiff that changes he was making to the organization of the intelligence community came as a result of calls for change from staffers.
Grenell also told Schiff that he would “encourage” him to “think of the relationship between your committee and the IC as that between the legislative and executive branches of government, rather than that between a hedge fund and a distressed asset, as your letter suggests.”
“Career IC officials have conducted four studies in the last two years calling for reforms at the ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence], and the career officials are eager to implement the recommendations. It is my duty to listen to these ODNI career employees who have ideas on how to improve the work we do for the American people,” the Trump loyalist wrote.
Since Grenell was appointed to the post, multiple senior DNI officials have been pushed out or resigned, according to the outlet.