According to a report by the Washington Post on the 22nd, US Defense Secretary Hegerseith announced the dismissal of DIA Director Geoffrey Cruise. The report stated that the DIA led by Cruise released an effectiveness evaluation report on US air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June, which caused strong dissatisfaction in the White House due to its inconsistency with US President Trump’s statements.
The report quoted anonymous government officials as saying that after the air strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, the DIA’s initial assessment report stated that the strike only “delayed” the Iranian nuclear program by a few months, but Trump publicly declared that Iranian nuclear facilities had been “completely destroyed.” Hegerseith had strongly criticized the DIA report, and the White House was also strongly dissatisfied with DIA.
In addition to Cruise, Navy Reserve Commander Nancy Lacour and Navy SEAL leader Milton Sands have also been fired. Reports pointed out that since taking office as defense secretary, Hegerseith has fired a large number of top US military commanders, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Brown and Navy Chief of Operations Franky. Recently, it was reported that Air Force Chief of Staff David Orwin was forced to retire early under pressure.
Regarding Cruise’s dismissal, the vice chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee and Democratic Senator Mark Warner said it was the latest example of the Trump administration “using intelligence work as a test of loyalty rather than a guarantee of national security.” The White House and Cruise have not responded to this so far.