U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says she is working to shut down what she claims is a continuing CIA program that secretly influences the media. She made the announcement on August 1, 2025, calling for more transparency and an end to government-run propaganda efforts.
The program, known as Operation Mockingbird, was first revealed in the 1970s during a Senate investigation. It involved the CIA working with journalists to spread pro-government messages during the Cold War. While the CIA has never officially admitted to ongoing operations, declassified documents confirmed the program’s existence in the past.
Gabbard now says the program is still active both in the U.S. and in Europe. She believes it is being used to shape public opinion through media and refers to it as a threat to public trust. However, she did not provide specific evidence showing that the program continues today.
“We cannot allow politically motivated operations to undermine trust in our institutions,” Gabbard said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Some lawmakers and intelligence experts are skeptical. Senator Mark Warner, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that such serious claims need strong evidence. Others suggest Gabbard might be trying to shift attention from her recent move to release documents tied to the 2016 election.
Still, some Republican lawmakers support her plan. Representative Warren Davidson called it a step toward “restoring transparency” in national security.
The CIA has not responded to the claims. Gabbard’s office says more documents may be released soon.
As this issue develops, it has reopened public debate about the role of intelligence agencies and media in a democracy—and whether past practices are truly in the past.
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