Jeffrey Kruse - Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

On 22 August 2025, it was the turn of Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, to end up at the centre of the purge vortex. Kruse had been accused by the Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, of not ensuring sufficient political 'alignment' with the White House. Specifically, under his tenure, the DIA had produced a classified report that contradicted the narrative of Trump and his allies about Iranian incursions into the Persian Gulf. When the contents of the document leaked to the press, the wrath of the White House poured directly on the director. His removal was accompanied by official statements that spoke of a 'loss of confidence' and a 'need to renew the chain of command'. Christine Bordine, former deputy director, was appointed as interim replacement. A debate opened in Congress on the autonomy of intelligence agencies. The affair was also echoed among NATO allies, who expressed concern about the independence of American military assessments. Kruse, for his part, kept a low profile, limiting himself to thanking the DIA staff for their work.