Intelligence officials are investigating sexually explicit messages shared on Intelink, a chat tool managed by the NSA, leading to the firing of over 100 officers. The misconduct, reported by conservative activist Christopher F. Rufo, included inappropriate discussions, particularly about gender and transgender issues. Some chat logs may have been manipulated, raising concerns about context and accuracy. While the Pentagon is moving to dismiss transgender troops, critics allege this is a purge of LGBTQ workers. Though the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, ordered the firings, the NSA is responsible for investigating and complying with her directive.
Officials from the intelligence community are still probing sexually explicit communications that surfaced on a government messaging platform, as the National Security Agency announced on Friday. These exchanges led the nation’s top intelligence officer to initiate the dismissal of over 100 personnel earlier this week.
In a statement released on Friday, a spokesperson for the National Security Agency indicated that these messages were shared on Intelink, a platform overseen by the N.S.A. for the broader intelligence community.
“The N.S.A. regards the allegations of recently discovered misconduct on Intelink with utmost seriousness,” the spokesperson remarked. “Such behavior will not be tolerated on this platform or any other system managed by the N.S.A.”
The revelation about the messages came on Monday from Christopher F. Rufo, a conservative activist. Intelligence officials verified that the National Security Agency was responsible for the system that facilitated these explicit conversations.
Sources briefed on the investigation noted that some public chat logs had been altered, with certain classified markings or content removed. However, these individuals pointed out that vital context was omitted in some exchanges, and that screenshots may not accurately represent the discussions.
Veteran U.S. civil servants expressed little doubt that some of the content was inappropriate for any workplace, particularly within a classified network intended for intelligence sharing. At least one chat room linked to this issue was reportedly shut down last year, according to a U.S. official.
A U.S. official confirmed that all individuals facing dismissal were participants in the chats and had made contributions. It remains unclear how many had made inappropriate remarks.
Many of the scrutinized messages pertained to gender transition treatments and sexual issues. One chat room where some of these comments appeared focused on gender and transgender topics; it’s uncertain how many of those officers slated for dismissal identified as transgender.
The Pentagon is taking steps to discharge transgender personnel from the military. Critics of the decision to terminate numerous intelligence officers have labeled it a purge of L.G.B.T.Q. personnel, a claim that officials from the Trump administration have denied.
Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, stated on Fox News on Tuesday that she had issued a directive to terminate over 100 officers across 15 agencies and revoke their security clearances.
Many of these officers, including some from the National Security Agency, faced suspensions. Other intelligence agencies reported on Friday the outcomes of their investigations into how their employees used the chat system, according to U.S. officials.
While the director of national intelligence lacks the authority to directly fire personnel at the N.S.A. or the C.I.A., officials stated that Gabbard’s oversight role ensured her directive would be executed.
The N.S.A. also indicated that they were taking measures to align with Gabbard’s directive.
“As the service provider, we are actively investigating and ensuring that the director of national intelligence and our partner I.C. agencies have the necessary information to take appropriate actions in accordance with” the national intelligence director’s orders, the spokesperson stated.
Individuals informed about the investigation indicated that it was not clear whether there existed any formal or informal relationship between the chat room and L.G.B.T.Q. affinity groups at the N.S.A. or other intelligence entities. The affinity groups were disbanded following President Trump’s directive to terminate diversity programs in the federal government.
Although some screenshots appeared to imply that the chat messages were linked to those groups, individuals briefed on the investigation have yet to confirm that.
The N.S.A.-managed system has previously faced scrutiny. In 2022 and 2023, concerns arose regarding the intelligence platform being used to exchange messages endorsing the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, vaccine skepticism, and derogatory comments about transgender individuals.
In 2023, a spokesperson for the director of national intelligence stated that all officers were required “to adhere to our established principles regarding respectful, professional behavior in all aspects of the workplace.” Employees who engaged in misbehavior would be “subject to various accountability mechanisms,” the spokesperson added.