Washington: Senior Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees have alleged that the Trump administration is weakening and politicizing the country's spy agencies.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sen. Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concerns about the administration's actions, stating that experienced intelligence officials have been pushed out and key programs have been cut. This, Warner warned, could leave the United States more vulnerable to foreign disinformation and cyberthreats. "We are watching, in real time, an administration strip away the guardrails that have protected this country for generations," Warner remarked.

The critique from the Democrats coincides with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's defense of her decision to revoke security clearances for 37 current and former officials. Gabbard argued that previous administrations have misused intelligence for political purposes, and her actions are aimed at rectifying those issues.

In a separate development, House Democrats Jim Himes and Joaquin Castro have sought explanations from Gabbard regarding the international repercussions of recent US missile strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug cartels. The lawmakers highlighted reports that key partners, including Colombia, the UK, and the Netherlands, have begun to scale back certain types of intelligence cooperation in response to the strikes.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for Gabbard referenced recent comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized the strength of US partnerships and dismissed reports of reduced British intelligence sharing as a "false story."