GOP senators want the Energy Department to clarify the sudden reassignment of the intelligence director
Republican Senators Demand Answers from Department of Energy on Reassignment of Top Intelligence Official
A group of Republican senators is putting pressure on the Department of Energy (DOE) to explain the sudden reassignment of a highly experienced intelligence official who had served in the role for 11 years.
Leading the charge is Sen. James Risch (R-ID), who issued a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm seeking urgent answers to the questions raised by this personnel decision.
“On Tuesday, October 17, we received word that Steven Black, the long-serving Director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DOE-IN) at the Department of Energy, was suddenly and without explanation reassigned,” the letter said.
“We are told he will be taking on a new role as ‘Senior Advisor’ in the Department. We are also aware that a study conducted by an outside contractor, which the Department has had in its possession since April, outlines disturbing findings as to the state of counterintelligence across the Department, to include the national laboratories,” the letter added.
The senators expressed their deep concern about the contractor study, which revealed serious shortcomings in counterintelligence within the DOE. They argued that if Director Black presided over this period of inadequacy, he should not be reassigned to any office within the Department with a national security mission.
The senators requested that Granholm refrain from assigning Black to any department office until they receive answers regarding the reasons behind his reassignment, the role the contractor study played in the decision, the specific department where Black is expected to serve as a senior advisor, when the DOE became aware of the study, and whether Granholm agrees with its findings.
No deadline was specified in the letter, but The Daily Wire reached out to the DOE for comment.
The letter was also signed by other influential senators, including Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL).
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About the DOE’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence
According to the DOE website, the agency’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence is a member of the U.S. intelligence community and is “responsible for all intelligence and counterintelligence activities throughout the DOE complex, including nearly thirty intelligence and counterintelligence offices nationwide.”
The page also states that the office plays a crucial role in protecting national security information and technologies, leveraging the Energy Department’s scientific and technological expertise to support policymakers and national security missions in defense, homeland security, cyber security, intelligence, and energy security.
What were the specific findings of the contractor study that led to the reassignment of Director Black?
Had knowledge of these findings, it is particularly troubling that he would be reassigned instead of being allowed to address and rectify the issues.
The letter further emphasized the importance of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence within the Department of Energy, highlighting its critical role in safeguarding national security and protecting the country’s energy infrastructure from foreign threats.
Senator Risch and his colleagues demanded a clear explanation from Energy Secretary Granholm as to the reasons behind Director Black’s reassignment and whether it was influenced by the contractor study’s findings. They also called for a concrete plan to address the identified counterintelligence shortcomings and ensure the utmost security within the Department.
In addition to seeking answers on the reassignment, the senators requested that Secretary Granholm provide details on the new responsibilities and authorities given to Director Black in his new role as Senior Advisor. They stressed the need for transparency and accountability, as the sudden and unexplained reassignment of a high-ranking intelligence official raises concerns about potential political motivations or attempts to suppress important information.
The senators urged the Department of Energy to take swift action in responding to their inquiries, highlighting the critical nature of the issues at hand and the need for full transparency in order to maintain public trust. They concluded the letter by stating their commitment to holding the Department accountable and ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of intelligence operations within the DOE.
This demand for answers from Republican senators reflects their concern over the sudden reassignment of a highly experienced intelligence official, as well as the alarming findings of the contractor study. It highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and the importance of addressing any identified shortcomings in counterintelligence within the Department of Energy to protect national security and the country’s energy infrastructure.
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