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Kruse’s departure followed an earlier assessment from the DIA that concluded U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites did not achieve as much as President Trump claimed but rather set back the Iranian program by several months. This conclusion led to pushback from the Trump administration, which then prompted more thorough intelligence findings by the Defense Department and CIA indicating greater damage.
“Based on everything we have seen – and I’ve seen it all – our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-VA., criticized the administration for Kruse’s ouster, stating, “The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administration’s dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country.” He added, “General Kruse is a career military officer with decades of distinguished, non-partisan service to our nation, making this ouster all the more troubling.”
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed gratitude for Kruse’s service and noted that if there was cause for his dismissal, the administration must provide this information to Congress immediately.
“Otherwise,” he added, “we can only assume that this is another politically motivated decision intended to create an atmosphere of fear, something that chills the ability of the Intelligence Community to do its job and protect national security.”
