A New Era For U.S. Intelligence Begins Today

Carlos Barria / Reuters

Kathy Gilsinan, The Atlantic: The End of the Dan Coats Era

Whoever takes over from Coats permanently could serve as a needed voice of clarity about America’s biggest challenges—or see the intelligence community further sidelined.

President Donald Trump’s feud with his intelligence agencies has flared ever since he took office already chafing about their conclusion on Russian electoral interference. The latest casualty: Dan Coats, who today leaves his post as director of national intelligence, with his deputy, Sue Gordon, reluctantly following him out the door. Joe Maguire now steps in as acting director, and whoever takes over the spot permanently could be, for good or ill, an unusually consequential figure—precisely because of the president’s hostility.

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Update: US spy chief Dan Coats leaves post after feud with Trump (Al Jazeera)

WNU Editor: Definitely .... A New Era Dawns for US Intelligence (VOA).

U.S. National Intelligence Director Dan Coats To Resign. To Be Replaced By Congressman John Ratcliffe

I am pleased to announce that highly respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence. A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves. Dan Coats, the current Director, will....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2019

ABC News Online: Donald Trump says national intelligence director Dan Coats will resign

US director of national intelligence Dan Coats is leaving his job next month, ending a two-year tenure marked by President Donald Trump's clashes with intelligence officials.

Mr Trump announced Mr Coats's August 15 departure in a tweet on Monday (AEST), in which he thanked Mr Coats for his service.

He said he would nominate Republican congressman John Ratcliffe for the post and name an acting official in the coming days.

Mr Ratcliffe has frequently defended Mr Trump, and he fiercely questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller last week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.

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WNU Editor: The thing that surprises me about Intelligence Director Dan Coats is that he lasted this long. He and President Trump had many differences, especially on Russia .... Trump's intelligence chief resigned after the White House repeatedly suppressed his warnings about Russian interference, New York Times reports (Business Insider). I am willing to bet that President Trump is happy to see him gone, and that he now has his own loyalist at the top of the intelligence community.

Update: I agree .... Why Did It Take Trump So Long to Drive Out Dan Coats? (Bloomberg)

More News On The Resignation Of U.S. National Intelligence Director Dan Coats

Trump says Coats is out as national intelligence director -- AP
Trump announces departure of US intelligence director Coats, frequent dissenter -- France 24
Trump says spy chief Coats stepping down, says will nominate Ratcliffe -- Reuters
Dan Coats: US intelligence chief leaves Trump administration -- BBC
Ratcliffe tapped to replace Coats as U.S. spy chief -- Reuters
Coats to step down, Trump tweets, as President says Ratcliffe will be nominated as next director of national intelligence -- CNN
Trump's intelligence pick is attempt to 'neutralise' spy agencies, say ex-officials -- The Guardian
Trump appoints loyalist to top intelligence post after ousting of man who produced scathing assessments of Russia -- The Independent

Is Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats The Next Top Official To Be Replaced By President Trump?

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Daniel Coats testifies to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Worldwide Threats on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Washington Post: Trump grows frustrated with Coats, leading some to fear he might be fired

President Trump has grown increasingly disenchanted with Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, who has served as the nation’s top intelligence official for nearly two years, leading some administration officials to worry he will soon be dismissed, according to people familiar with the matter.

The president has never seen Coats as a close or trusted adviser, the people said, but he has become more frustrated with him in recent weeks over public statements that Trump sees as undercutting his policy goals, particularly with respect to reaching a disarmament agreement with North Korea.

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WNU Editor: You serve at the pleasure of the President, and it has been quite clear that President Trump and  Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats are not on the same page.

U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Warns That China And Russia Are The Biggest Espionage, Cyber, And Election Meddling Threats

VOA: US intel Chief: Russia, China Biggest Espionage, Cyber Threats

Russia and China pose the biggest espionage and cyber attack threats to the United States and are more aligned than they have been in decades, the leader of the U.S. intelligence community told U.S. senators on Tuesday.

While the two countries seek to expand their global reach, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said, some American allies are pulling away from Washington in reaction to changing U.S. policies on security and trade.

"China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increasingly use cyber operations to threaten both minds and machines in an expanding number of ways - to steal information, to influence our citizens, or to disrupt critical infrastructure," Coats said.

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More News On The U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Warning That China And Russia Are The Biggest Espionage, Cyber, And Election Meddling Threats

Intelligence heads warn of more aggressive election meddling in 2020 -- Politico
U.S. intel agencies: Russia and China plotting to interfere in 2020 election -- NBC
US officials warn of stark threat posed by ISIS -- The Hill
Spy Boss Coats Warns Russia, Others Plot New Interference Techniques For 2020 -- NPR

U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Claims That North Korea Will Not Give Up Its Nuclear Weapons

Daily Mail/Agencies: Kim Jong Un wants to KEEP his nuclear weapons, Trump's intelligence boss tells senators - contradicting president's 'denuclearization' claim after his summit with North Korean dictator

* Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence, tells the Senate Intelligence Committee, that Kim Jong Un sees nuclear weapons as vital to his regime
* He said of North Korea: 'Its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival.'
* Coats' assessment, which is on behalf of all the U.S. intelligence agencies, directly contradicts Trump who said Kim was on way to full denuclearization
* Intelligence chief also disclosed 'observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization'
* Report also warned Russia will try to hack 2020 election by spreading division on social media and that ISIS 'still command thousands of fighters'

North Korea will try to keep its nuclear weapons and is still working on them, Donald Trump's director of national intelligence warned Tuesday - directly contradicting the president's claim about his relationship with Kim Jong Un.

In an assessment casting doubt on President Donald Trump's goal of a nuclear-disarmed North Korea, U.S. intelligence agencies told Congress that the North is unlikely to entirely dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

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More News On The U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Claiming That North Korea Will Not Give Up Its Nuclear Weapons

North Korea unlikely to give up nuclear weapons: U.S. spy chief Coats -- Reuters
Spy agencies doubt North Korea will give up nuclear weapons -- AP
Spy chief contradicts Trump's claims of progress with North Korea -- Reuters
U.S. intel chief Dan Coats: North Korea 'unlikely to completely give up' its nukes -- USA Today
Top intel chiefs contradict Trump on Iran, North Korea nuclear developments -- The Hill

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Warns Of Devastating Cyber Threats To U.S. Infrastructure From Russia, North Korea, Iran, And China

Reuters: U.S. intel chief warns of devastating cyber threat to U.S. infrastructure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence chief warned on Friday that the threat was growing for a devastating cyber assault on critical U.S. infrastructure, saying the “warning lights are blinking red again” nearly two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are launching daily cyber strikes on the computer networks of federal, state and local government agencies, U.S. corporations, and academic institutions, said Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

Of the four, “Russia has been the most aggressive foreign actor, no question,” he said.

Coats spoke at the Hudson Institute think tank shortly after the Department of Justice announced the indictment of 12 Russian military intelligence officers on charges of hacking into the computers of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and Democratic Party organizations.

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More News On The U.S. Director of National Intelligence Warning Of Devastating Cyber Threats To U.S. Infrastructure From Russia, North Korea, Iran, And China

Intelligence chief invokes 9/11 in warning of potentially crippling cyberattacks -- Washington Times
Cyberthreat warnings ‘blinking red,’ says top U.S. intelligence official -- AP
Intel chief Dan Coats says of cyberattacks, "We are at a critical point" -- CBS
US cyberthreat at 'critical point': US intelligence chief -- AFP
US intelligence chief: 'The warning lights are blinking red again' on cyberattacks -- CNN

U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Outline To The U.S. Senate The Current Dangers To America

US Department Of Defense: Intel Chiefs Tell Senate Committee of Dangers to America

These are dangerous times, and the threat of war is greater now than at any time since the end of the Cold War, the director of national intelligence told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.

Dan Coats and Army Maj. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr., the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, gave the committee their assessments of the threats facing America.

“We have entered a period that can best be described as a race for technological superiority against our adversaries, who seek to sow division in the United States and weaken U.S. leadership,” Coats said.

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WNU Editor: The war against terror is no longer the priority.

More News On The U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Outlining To The U.S. Senate The Current Dangers To America

Intel chief grilled over Trump's response to Russian election attacks -- CNN
Top intel official insists White House ‘engaged’ on Russian threat to midterms -- The Hill
'The Russian bear came out of hibernation': The US's top intelligence official issues an ominous warning to Congress -- Business Insider
Intelligence boss: US to issue more sanctions on Russia -- AP
Top US intelligence chiefs are skeptical of North Korea's offer to talk about its nuclear weapons program -- CNBC
U.S. intelligence chiefs wary of reported North Korea offer -- Reuters
US intelligence chief 'skeptical' on NKorea talks offer -- AFP
U.S. intelligence chiefs wary of reported North Korea offer -- Reuters
U.S. intelligence chief warns of China spending to boost influence -- Reuters
Defense intel chief: China and Russia working on futuristic weapons -- Axios
Intel chiefs: China, Russia developing 'attack satellites' to target US 'in a few years' -- Washington Examiner
Intel official: Kushner's security access poses no threat -- ABC News

U.S. Intel Chief Expects Russia To Continue Efforts To Interfere In U.S. Elections

New York Times: Russia Sees Midterm Elections as Chance to Sow Fresh Discord, Intelligence Chiefs Warn

WASHINGTON — As the midterm elections approach, Russia is likely to throw more propaganda at Americans, using people sympathetic to their messages and fake personalities on social media — many of them run by bots — to sow further political and social divisions in the United States, the top American intelligence officials said on Tuesday.

The intelligence chiefs warned the Senate Intelligence Committee, during an annual hearing on worldwide threats that Russia believes its interference in the 2016 presidential election largely achieved its chief aim — weakening faith in American democracy. Moscow now sees the coming congressional elections as a chance to build on its gains, they said.

“There should be no doubt that Russia perceives its past efforts as successful and views the 2018 U.S. midterm elections as a potential target for Russian influence operations,” said Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence.

“Throughout the entire community we have not seen any evidence of any significant change from last year,” he added.

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More News On The U.S. Intel Chief Expecting Russia To Continue Efforts To Interfere In U.S. Elections

US intel officials say Russia targeting midterms -- ABC News/AP
US intel chiefs say Russia meddling threatens 2018 vote -- AFP
Top US Intel Officials: Russia Bent on Influencing US Midterm Elections -- VOA
'The United States is under attack': Intelligence chief Dan Coats says Putin targeting 2018 elections -- USA Today
Intelligence officials say Russia intent on disrupting future US elections -- Politico.eu
More Russian cyber attacks on elections 'likely': U.S. intelligence chief -- Reuters
Russia Sees US Midterms as 'Potential Target,' Spy Chief Says -- Bloomberg
The nation’s top spy just said Russia may meddle in the 2018 midterms -- VOX
Dan Coats: Russia poses huge threat to elections again in 2018 -- Washington Examiner

U.S. Intelligence Director Urges Congress To Renew Surveillance Authority

Tim Johnson, McClatchy News: US spy chief urges Congress to renew surveillance authority

WASHINGTON: Intelligence Director Dan Coats Monday urged Congress to tread carefully as it considers imposing limitations on surveillance authorities enjoyed by the nation’s spy agencies for nearly a decade.

“This is clearly a major issue for the intelligence community,” Coats told a group of journalists at his office complex in suburban Virginia. “It’s one of our top priorities.”

The administration of President Donald Trump has called on Congress to renew and make permanent some powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expire at the end of this year. Those powers permit collection of electronic communications of foreigners who are deemed potential threats to U.S. national security, a list of targets that this year topped 106,000.

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WNU Editor:  The U.S. Congress is going to re-authorize these measures. This is all for show.

Director Of U.S. National Intelligence Dan Coats Testifies Before The Senate Armed Services Committee

FOX News: DNI Coats blasts leaks, mum on report Trump sought help disputing collusion claim

The nation’s top intelligence official testified Tuesday that government leaks are hurting national security, while remaining mum on the latest leak-driven report – that President Trump asked him and another top official to swat down claims of collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia.

The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump looked to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael Rogers to push back against the FBI’s Russia probe after former FBI Director James Comey’s March 20 testimony in which he told lawmakers the bureau was investigating the “nature of any links.”

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More News On Director Of U.S. National Intelligence Dan Coats Testifying Before The Senate Armed Services Committee

Intel chief Dan Coats dodges Trump-Russia question, says the real threat is leaks -- Washington Examiner
U.S. intel chief declines comment on any Trump request about Russia -- Reuters
U.S. not started assessment on any Trump intel disclosure to Russia: Coats -- Reuters
US intelligence chief: No confirmation ISIS responsible for Manchester attack -- The Hill
National Intel Director Reveals ISIS Attack Plan -- NBC
Top U.S. Intel Official: Retaking Raqqa Will Fail to Hamper ISIS Ambitions Abroad -- Washington Examiner
Russia is trying to interfere with UK general election says top US intelligence official -- Mirror
U.S. Spy Chiefs Differ on Iranian Threat as Trump Rallies Allies -- Bloomberg
Dan Coats: Ukraine, Libya taught other countries to seek nuclear weapons -- Washington Examiner
Cyber security should be a 'top priority,' Coats says -- Washington Post
Who is Dan Coats? -- CNN

U.S. Senate Has Confirmed Former Sen. Dan Coats As Director Of National Intelligence

Roll Call: Former Senator Dan Coats Easily Confirmed as Intelligence Director

Former Sen. Dan Coats can formally say goodbye to his brief retirement.

His former Senate colleagues confirmed the Hoosier, 85-12, to be President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence Wednesday afternoon, in one of their last actions before a long St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Senators voted to limit debate on the Coats nomination earlier Wednesday, 88-11.
Coats said during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Intelligence Committee that moving back to the executive branch was not his plan when he announced his intent to retire from the Senate.

“It has been a long road of public service that has brought me here before you. After 34 years of service in the House, Senate, and as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, I was ready to make a transition and planned to move on to a new chapter of my lifelong journey back home again in Indiana,” Coats said. “But as I have learned over those 34 years, life doesn’t always work out that way.”

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More News On The U.S. Senate Has Confirmed Former Sen. Dan Coats As Director Of National Intelligence

Coats confirmed as nation’s new spy chief -- Washington Post
Senate confirms former Indiana Sen. Dan Coats to serve as director of National Intelligence -- AP
Senate confirms Coats as national intel chief -- The Hill
Senate approves Coats as new spy chief -- Politico
Senate approves Dan Coats as US director of national intelligence -- Straits Times

Former Indiana Senator Dan Coats Will Be President-Elect Trump's Pick For Director Of National Intelligence

Washington Post: Former Indiana senator Dan Coats is Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to announce his choice of Dan Coats as soon as today, according to a transition official. The announcement comes as Trump's relationship with the intelligence community has grown tense over its assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential election. Coats, a Republican, decided not to run for reelection in 2016 after being elected to a second stint in the Senate in 2010. He had previously served from 1989 until 1999. In between, he was ambassador to Germany.

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More News On Reports That Former Indiana Senator Dan Coats Will Be President-Elect Trump's Pick For Director Of National Intelligence

Dan Coats Expected to Be Named Intelligence Director -- New York Times
Ex-Senator Coats is top candidate for director of national intelligence: NBC News -- Reuters
Ex-Sen. Dan Coats leading contender to for top intel position: report -- The Hill
Ex-Indiana Senator Likely Pick for Trump's Intelligence Chief - Reports -- Sputnik
Dan Coats: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know -- Heavy.com