Audio Briefs What’s Normal—and What’s Not—About ODNI’s Request to Revise the NIC's Intelligence Assessment
May 23, 2025
Emily Harding, a CSIS expert focused on intelligence and national security, delves into a contentious request to revise an intelligence assessment linking Venezuela's government to a dangerous gang. She discusses the risks of political influence on intelligence integrity, especially concerning U.S. immigration policy. Additionally, Harding highlights the challenges of differing agency perspectives on migrant testimonies, advocating for robust oversight to protect the objectivity of intelligence amid politicized pressures.
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Kent's Request to Revise Assessment
- Joe Kent, ODNI acting chief of staff, asked NIC to revise its assessment linking Venezuela and Tren de Aragua.
- The policy to deport Venezuelans depends on whether the government directs the gang.
NIC's Nuanced Venezuela Assessment
- The Venezuelan government likely "probably sometimes tolerates" the gang Tren de Aragua but does not control it.
- The assessment is nuanced, showing uncertainty and limited cooperation, with robust evidence cited.
Balancing Integrity and Political Pressure
- Requests to revise intelligence assessments can be legitimate if new information emerges.
- Pressure for political outcomes jeopardizes analytical integrity and risks politicization of intelligence.