Trump names counterterrorism chief as acting director of national intelligence

[WASHINGTON] President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Joseph Maguire, the current chief of the National Counterterrorism Center, will become the acting director of national intelligence.

Mr Trump said in a tweet that Mr Maguire will take over the acting post on Aug 15, when Dan Coats, the current director of the agency overseeing civilian and military intelligence, steps down.

"Admiral Maguire has a long and distinguished career in the military, retiring from the US Navy in 2010," Mr Trump said on Twitter.

Mr Maguire has led the National Counterterrorism Center since December. He retired from the Navy after a 36-year career that included leading the Naval Special Warfare Command.

Earlier on Thursday, the No 2 official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Sue Gordon, resigned. She said in her resignation letter to Mr Trump: "Know that our people are our strength, and they will never fail you or the Nation. You are in good hands."

Last week, Mr Trump dropped his first choice to replace Mr Coats, US Representative John Ratcliffe, after questions arose about the Republican congressman's lack of experience and possible exaggerations in his resume.

It is not clear what prompted the resignation of Ms Gordon, a career intelligence official who had the backing of current and former officials because of her deep experience.

"Sue Gordon's retirement is a significant loss for our Intelligence Community," the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr, said in a statement.

Mr Trump had a strained relationship with Mr Coats, who endorsed the US intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the objective of promoting Mr Trump over his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump also has objected to US intelligence community analyses of major issues - from Iran's nuclear program to North Korea - that have clashed with his own assessments.

The post of director of national intelligence, which was created after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, oversees the 17 US civilian and military intelligence agencies including the CIA.

Under the law, Mr Trump needed to name a new acting director from the senior staff of the agency. The National Counterterrorism Center is part of ODNI.

His choice for the permanent job must be confirmed by the Senate.

Among the potential candidates for permanent director are Republican congressmen Mike McCaul and Devin Nunes, and US Ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra, according to administration officials and media reports.

Mr McCaul is a former chairman of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee and Mr Nunes is a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Mr Hoekstra is a former nine-term member of the House who spent more than six years in top positions on the intelligence committee.

REUTERS