Politicization of US Intelligence: Causes and Consequences

The Institute of World Politics

***This lecture is sponsored by the IWP IAFIE Alpha Student Chapter*** About the Lecture: "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences” is a presentation in association with Dr. Gentry's recent book, Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023). Beginning in 2016 and continuing into 2021, current and former U.S. intelligence officers engaged in domestic partisan politics to an unprecedented extent. This discussion will describe and assess what happened at various agencies, the causes of the politicization, consequences for the agencies and national decision-making, and prospects for renewed politicization in 2024. ***Copies of Dr. Gentry's book will be made available for purchase at the conclusion of the event and can be signed by the author.*** Purchase the book here. About the Author: Dr. John A. Gentry teaches for the School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University. He was for 12 years an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he mainly worked on economic issues associated with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries; for two of those years, he was a senior analyst on the staff of the National Intelligence Officer for Warning. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve officer, with most assignments in special operations and intelligence arenas. He was mobilized in 1996 and spent much of 1996 as a civil affairs officer in Bosnia. Dr. Gentry formerly taught at Georgetown University, Columbia University, and the National Intelligence University. He has an economics background and received a Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University. He writes regularly on intelligence and security issues. His most recently published book is Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023).