Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has removed the top leadership at the National Intelligence Council, citing whistleblower claims of political bias and opposition to President Trump. The move is part of a broader effort by Gabbard to crack down on what she and senior officials describe as entrenched partisanship and unauthorized leaks within the intelligence community.

The two officials dismissed are Mike Collins, the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council, and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. Their removal was confirmed by senior intelligence sources on Tuesday. Gabbard has also announced plans to relocate the council under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to prevent what officials call “politicization of intelligence.”

“Many intel community leakers are career bureaucrats that are entrenched in Washington politics,” one senior official said. “It takes time to weed them out and fire them,” the official added, noting that Gabbard is now moving to eliminate “non-essential offices within ODNI that we know are housing deep state leakers.”

Fox News reported that Collins is the subject of whistleblower complaints, accused of political bias and of “deliberately undermining the incoming Trump administration.” Officials further noted his connections to Michael Morrell, a former CIA deputy director who organized the 2020 public letter suggesting that Hunter Biden’s laptop had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”

As for Langan-Riekhof, whistleblowers have described her as “radically opposed to Trump” and a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the intelligence community.

Officials say that moving the National Intelligence Council from the CIA to the ODNI structure will allow Gabbard to “directly hold accountable any improper action and politicization of intelligence.” A CIA official responded to the development, stating that the council “has always been a DNI component” and that “it makes sense for them to be physically located at DNI.”

The dismissals come as Gabbard intensifies efforts to address leaks and alleged partisan activity by intelligence personnel. A senior intelligence official said Tuesday that ODNI is investigating 12 additional intelligence officials for allegedly leaking classified information.

ODNI has already fired two CIA detailees in early May for allegedly leaking an assessment about the Tren de Aragua gang to The New York Times. Officials said the firings were due to a failure to follow proper procedures.

Gabbard also created the Director’s Initiative Group (DIG) in April to lead an internal review of bias and unauthorized disclosures within the intelligence apparatus. The task force is focused on “restoring transparency and accountability in the intelligence community,” and intends to declassify information “that serves a public interest.”

She has also taken disciplinary action against intelligence employees involved in inappropriate activity, including sexually explicit National Security Agency chatrooms, and is continuing efforts to pursue those responsible for unauthorized leaks.

“So far, Gabbard has referred three intelligence community professionals to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution over alleged leaks of classified information,” according to officials.