Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Disbands Intelligence Reform Task Force After Less Than a Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on February 12, 2026, the conclusion of a task force she established to reform intelligence gathering practices across the United States. The group, which operated for less than a year, was designed from the outset to be a temporary initiative focused on enhancing transparency, rooting out politicization, and exploring cost reductions within the intelligence community.
Gabbard formed the task force in April 2025 amid growing calls for greater accountability and clearer oversight of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. The group’s mandate included examining whether intelligence reports on critical issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, should be declassified to inform the public more effectively. In her statement, Gabbard emphasized that the task force had achieved a “historic level of transparency” during its tenure.
“My commitment to transparency, truth, and eliminating politicization and weaponization within the intelligence community remains central to all that we do,” Gabbard said, underscoring the ongoing priorities of her office. The decision to disband the task force aligns with its original purpose as a short-term body designed to catalyze reform.
Since its inception, the task force has worked closely with agencies under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), coordinating efforts to streamline intelligence operations and improve the integrity of intelligence products. Analysts and officials within the community have noted that the initiative helped foster dialogue on reducing unnecessary expenditures and enhancing interagency collaboration.
The move to end the task force comes amid a broader national conversation about the role of intelligence in policymaking and public discourse. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has previously highlighted concerns about the politicization of intelligence assessments, a challenge Gabbard’s task force sought to address.
Director Gabbard’s tenure has also included efforts to increase public trust in intelligence agencies by promoting transparency measures consistent with national security requirements. The task force’s work contributed to these efforts by recommending declassification protocols and reviewing intelligence spending priorities.
While the task force has been disbanded, Gabbard affirmed that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence will continue to prioritize reforms. The ODNI’s ongoing initiatives include improving oversight mechanisms and enhancing the accuracy and impartiality of intelligence reporting.
For more information on the structure and mission of the U.S. intelligence community, visit the Office of the Director of National Intelligence website. Updates on congressional oversight can be found through the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The broader context of intelligence reform is also discussed in reports by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which remain key partners in national security efforts.
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