WASHINGTON (TNND) — Trump administration intelligence officials are set to face a second day of questioning on Thursday on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers demand answers about the war in Iran and growing signs of division within the administration.
During Wednesday’s annual worldwide threats hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran’s government “appears to be intact but largely degraded” following weeks of conflict.
She also said in prepared remarks that prior U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program and that there has been no effort to rebuild it — a notable assertion as President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued military action was necessary to counter what he described as an imminent threat.
But Gabbard repeatedly declined to say whether the intelligence community shared that assessment.
“It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,” she said.
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia pushed back sharply: “It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States.”
Lawmakers from both parties grew frustrated as Gabbard and other top officials — including FBI Director Kash Patel and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — sidestepped questions about what intelligence had been shared with the president ahead of the conflict.
Gabbard also refused to say whether Trump had been warned Iran could retaliate by attacking Gulf nations or effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
“I have not and won’t divulge internal conversations,” she said, adding that intelligence officials continue to provide the president with “objective intelligence” to inform decisions.
The lack of direct answers drew visible frustration from lawmakers, including Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the committee’s top Democrat.
“I am very disappointed,” Warner said. “It’s the only one time of year the public gets to hear from you guys in this kind of setting.”
The hearing — one of two held annually to publicly assess global threats — comes as U.S. and Israeli military operations continue in the Middle East and concerns about terrorism rise at home following recent attacks at a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia university.
Scrutiny is expected to intensify on Thursday, particularly after the resignation of Joe Kent as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
Kent said he stepped down because he could not “in good conscience” support the war and did not believe Iran posed an imminent threat — underscoring apparent internal disagreement within the administration.
Gabbard, whose office oversaw Kent’s work, later said on social media that determining whether Iran poses a threat ultimately rests with the president, without offering her own conclusion.
FBI Director Kash Patel is also expected to face additional questions over his leadership after firing dozens of agents in his first year. Ahead of the hearing, Patel defended his record, calling it a “historic year” and saying the bureau has been rebuilt to better protect Americans.
With tensions abroad escalating and divisions at home coming into sharper focus, lawmakers are expected to continue pressing intelligence leaders for clearer answers in Thursday’s hearing.
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Editor’s notes: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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