LETTER OF RESIGNATNION: Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Sue Gordan has resigned -- involuntarily
By Mona Austin
Is the intelligence community crumbling? It was previously announced in July that the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates would be resigning. Pres. Donald Trump swiftly endorsed Ratcliffe, a Republican loyalist, deemed to politically partial for the job and abruptly dropped him after be blamed for improper vetting. All intelligence agencies -- including the FBI and CIA-- are under the authority of the Office of the Department of National Intelligence, which is now has no leadership in its upper ranks.
Sue Gordon, Deputy Director of National Intelligence announced her resignation on Thursday just weeks after the department head Dan Coats announced his. They will both vacate their posts on August 15 and both insisted Russians interfered with the 2020 election, an admission that Pres. Trump has denied. This leaves a vulnerable chasm at the top of the agency responsible for the nation's safekeeping, one California Democrat Adam Schiff said is "devastating."
Gordon, a 30-year intelligence vet, left involuntarily to make room for the president's team she wrote in a letter the White House released.
These personnel shifts are particularly concerning amid recent domestic terrorism attacks and the perception of instability globally in an election year with the threat of Russian interference looming.
Keeping leadership in key position in the Trump Administration has been an on-going challenge.
The POTUS is the head man in charge for hiring department heads, a WH source explained, but the PPO (Presidential Personnel Office) vets prospects. Trump tends to hire the “acting” person, but has not done so with Acting DHS Dir. Kevin McAleenan since Kirstjen Nielsen left in April. In a normal process, as the next in the chain of command, the acting director would assume the directorship or be confirmed by the senate.
On Twitter Trump complimented Gordon's service writing she was a "great professional with a long and distinguished career.
"I have gotten to know Sue over the past 2 years and have developed great respect for her."
"A new Acting Director of National Intelligence will be named shortly," said the president. Trump initially picked Jon Ratcliffe (R-TX) who removed himself from consideration over criticism for the lack of intelligence experience and being a Trump loyalist.
Trump tweeted that Admiral Joseph Maguire, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, which is responsible for the government’s national and international counterterrorism efforts, will be the acting director of national intelligence, which includes the NSA and CIA.
By Friday, Mr. Trump told reporters he did not know who the permanent director replacement is yet, but dropped another prospect: "I like Pete Hoekstra a lot." Hoekstra is currently the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands.
In a letter addressed to the president Gordon
Note from Sue Gordon:
8 August 2019
Mr. President –
I offer this letter as an act of respect & patriotism, not preference. You should have your team.
Godspeed,
Sue
Letter from Sue Gordon:
8 August 2019
Mr. President,
Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Nation as the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence for the past two years. It has been an honor.
As you ask a new leadership team to take the helm, I will resign my position effective 15 August 2019, and will subsequently retire from federal service. I am confident in what the Intelligence Community has accomplished, and what it is poised to do going forward. I have seen it in action first-hand for more than 30 years. Know that our people are our strength, and they will never fail you or the Nation. You are in good hands.
Respectfully,
Susan M. Gordon
(Source: White House)