Gabbard disputes claims she withheld whistleblower complaint from Congress

The Director of National Intelligence says she took 'immediate action' once notified of the need to provide security guidance for the complaint's release.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has disputed claims by lawmakers that she sought to block Congress from accessing a whistleblower complaint, saying she took 'immediate action' once notified of the need to provide security guidance for its release. Gabbard was appointed to her post by Republican President Donald Trump last year.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over access to sensitive intelligence information, as well as the challenges of balancing national security concerns with transparency and oversight.

The details

A top-secret complaint filed with the intelligence community's inspector general last May by an anonymous government official alleged that the U.S. spy chief's office sought to prevent the routine dissemination of certain classified intelligence for political reasons. Democrats have accused Gabbard's office of failing to relay the May complaint to Congress within the required 21-day timeline, but Gabbard says the 21-day requirement only applies when a complaint is determined to be both urgent and credible.

  • The whistleblower complaint was filed with the intelligence community's inspector general in May 2026.
  • Gabbard was appointed to her post as Director of National Intelligence in 2025 by President Trump.
  • Gabbard says she was not informed by the inspector generals that the whistleblower had chosen to send the complaint to Congress until December 4, 2026.

The players

Tulsi Gabbard

The current U.S. Director of National Intelligence, appointed to the position in 2025 by Republican President Donald Trump.

Mark Warner

The Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who has criticized Gabbard's office for allegedly failing to relay the whistleblower complaint to Congress within the required timeline.

Andrew Bakaj

The lawyer for the anonymous government whistleblower who filed the complaint with the intelligence community's inspector general.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Senate Intelligence Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the whistleblower complaint and Gabbard's handling of it in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over access to sensitive intelligence information, as well as the challenges of balancing national security concerns with transparency and oversight. It also raises questions about the role of political appointees in managing whistleblower complaints.