The White House has made plans to restrict the sharing of classified intelligence within Congress, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
This comes after President Donald Trump’s claim that the initial plans for US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were leaked to the press and had to be changed, a senior Trump administration official said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are expected to be sent by the White House to brief lawmakers on the issue of sharing intel.
Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, will not be present after testifying in March, the US Intelligence had decided that Iran was not in fact building a nuclear weapon.
The senior Trump administration official had said that the intelligence community would be represented by Ratcliff instead when asked about Gabbard’s notable absence from the list of representatives.
The Post reported that Gabbard had been largely sidelined when it came to the US’s recent situation with Iran and Israel.
Congress is legally entitled to know about national security matters
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the White House to reverse its decision to limit the sharing of classified information with Congress, arguing that lawmakers have a right to access vital national security details.
Schumer emphasized that Congress is legally entitled to know about ongoing matters abroad, especially regarding national security.
The White House's stance on the effectiveness of airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities has been contentious. While initial intelligence suggested that the strikes delayed Iran’s nuclear program but didn't destroy it, Trump and his officials have insisted that the strikes fully obliterated the sites.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe echoed this claim, while nonpartisan military officers have been more cautious, acknowledging significant damage but not full destruction.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) also supported the White House's view, agreeing that Iran's nuclear program was set back.
Trump is actively defending the success of the mission and plans a public appearance at the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, Democrats have criticized the administration for not briefing lawmakers on time, citing the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which mandates a briefing within 48 hours of military action. Briefings for lawmakers have been delayed, with the Senate’s rescheduled for Thursday.