Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has referred two intelligence community officials to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution over alleged leaks of classified information, according to a Wednesday report.
According to an ODNI official, the individuals are accused of leaking sensitive information to the Washington Post and The New York Times. A third criminal referral is reportedly “on its way” to the Justice Department, Fox News Digital reported exclusively.
The official said that other intelligence community officials and members should take the criminal referral over leaking “as a warning.”
“Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end,” Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today, I referred two intelligence community leakers to the Department of Justice for criminal referral, with a third criminal referral on its way, which includes the recent illegal leak to the Washington Post,” Gabbard said. “These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump’s agenda.”
She added: “I look forward to working with the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.”
Fox noted that the ODNI official said the criminal referrals were the first steps to “holding these individuals accountable.”
The official explained the decision-making process to Fox News Digital, stating that an internal review was conducted before the criminal referral was submitted to the Justice Department. From there, the DOJ would forward the referral to the FBI to initiate a formal criminal investigation.
“We are aggressively investigating other leaks and will pursue further criminal referrals as warranted,” the official told the outlet. “Any intelligence community bureaucrat who is considering leaking to the media should take this as a warning.”
The official added that the Trump administration “will identify leakers and leakers will face legal consequences.”
Earlier this month, Gabbard launched a new task force aimed at restoring transparency and accountability within the intelligence community. Fox News Digital was first to report on the Director’s Initiative Group (DIG), which initially focused on investigating alleged weaponization within the intelligence agencies.
Officials said the task force will also target politicization and unauthorized leaks of classified information. Additionally, the group plans to declassify intelligence “that serves a public interest.”
Gabbard has also taken disciplinary action against employees involved in sexually explicit chatrooms within the NSA and is actively pursuing consequences for individuals responsible for unauthorized leaks of classified information within the intelligence community.
In March, the Defense Department under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also launched a probe into unauthorized leaks as well as disinformation sent to various media outlets.
The New York Times—citing unnamed sources—reported that Elon Musk was set to receive a classified briefing on U.S. military plans for a potential conflict with China, raising alarm over the unprecedented idea of granting such access to a civilian with business ties to Beijing.
The report quickly gained traction, with CNN eagerly amplifying the story—until Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shut it down, clarifying that while Musk was indeed scheduled to visit the Pentagon, no war plan briefing was on the agenda.
Taking to Truth Social, President Donald Trump called the report an “absolutely ridiculous and false story, which is probably libelous.”
Within the past several days, at least three now-former Pentagon officials have been dismissed from the DoD for allegedly leaking sensitive information. One of them was a former senior adviser to Hegseth.
Reuters first reported that Dan Caldwell was suspended over an “unauthorized disclosure” of information, amid an ongoing investigation into leaks. A DOD official confirmed the report to Fox News Digital but declined to comment further due to the active investigation.
