Statement on National Security Agency Whistleblower Matter
Bethesda, MD, February 9, 2026 — While I do not know the specific facts surrounding the recent National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower matter, I have great respect for the work and professionalism of former acting Intelligence Community Inspector General Tamara A. Johnson. In my experience as a former inspector general and chair of the IG Council, Ms. Johnson consistently demonstrated the highest caliber of integrity and independence, approached her oversight mission with rigor and thoroughness, and was above reproach in her commitment to nonpartisan oversight. Tamara Johnson is exactly the type of fair, objective, and independent professional the American people should want as an inspector general, particularly in a sensitive and complex environment like the intelligence community.
This situation underscores a fundamental principle of effective oversight: every inspector general’s office must be fully independent from political influence. It is deeply problematic when individuals with evident political loyalties are placed within an inspector general’s office.
That appears to be the case here when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard installed one of her top advisors, Dennis Kirk, at the Intelligence Community Office of Inspector General on May 9, just two weeks after the whistleblower reportedly first contacted the IG hotline. The concern is even more acute with the recent appointment of Christopher Fox as Intelligence Community’s IG, who just a few months ago was serving as a senior advisor to Gabbard.
The appointment of political officials into any office of inspector general is highly problematic because the American people and Congress will have reason to question the credibility of their work. IG independence is not merely a matter of statute. It is essential to the integrity of the institution.
Mark Lee Greenblatt is a former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Chair of the Council of Inspectors General, as well as the author of Valor: Unsung Heroes from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front (Rowman & Littlefield). More information about Greenblatt is available at www.markleegreenblatt.com.
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