"Protecting Intelligence from Politics" starring Virginia Democratic Senator John Warner
"Protecting Intelligence from Politics" was the topic of a 90-minute discussion starring Virginia Democratic Senator John Warner at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University on September 19.The discussion was attended by about one hundred people in or connected to the U.S. Intelligence Community and more who attended online.
It was said that the current administration is trying to bend the IC to delivers products that support the administration's point of view. Another comment was that we are now unable to use 75 years of alliances because of the administration's undermining of 'soft power.'
In the Q and A period, it was asked if we are headed toward a lost generation of intelligence professionals due to cuts in government hiring and to university intelligence programs? Some felt that the changes made by the current administration could be undone (like in 2020) due to how they were made (executive orders, rather than laws).
In the meantime, it was suggested that academics tell their students to take any job in the IC that requires a clearance to get a 'foot in the door,' positioning them to transfer to an intelligence position once they become available again.
The event was recorded and will be posted on the school's website and You Tube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@schar
- Marilyn Peterson