‘Undercover’ CIA Op Stripped Of Security Clearance Is Known Russia Hoaxer

A CIA operative described in a recent Wall Street Journal hit piece on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as an “undercover” asset is actually a well-known ‘Russian collusion’ hoaxer who consistently undermined President Trump.

The piece by WSJ  national security reporter Brett Forrest, which was published on Wednesday, claimed that Gabbard’s recission of CIA ‘spy’ Julia Gurganus’ security clearance, among dozens of others, has “alarmed people” inside the CIA.

“Gabbard didn’t know the CIA officer had been working undercover, according to a person familiar with the fallout from the list’s release,” Forrest wrote in the hit piece, which was headlined, “Tulsi Gabbard Blindsided CIA Over Revoking Clearance of Undercover Officer.”

He claimed to have cited “three other people with knowledge of the situation” who supposedly said the DNI “didn’t meaningfully consult with the CIA before releasing the list.”

Multiple sources disputed that claim, The Federalist reported on Friday.

A senior intelligence official told the outlet there was staff-level coordination between the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and other agencies before the revocation letter was issued.

Another source said “zero concerns” were raised by any agency involved over the decision to revoke Gurganus’ security clearance or those of others.

The Wall Street Journal reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was unhappy with the public revocation of Gurganus’ security clearance, though a CIA official quoted in the story denied that characterization.

“Director Ratcliffe and the President’s entire elite national security team are committed to eradicating the politicization of intelligence and are focused on executing President Trump’s national security priorities, and keeping the American people safe,” CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons told the WSJ.

The article doesn’t name the CIA official, whom Forrest describes as “a longtime Russia hand at the agency.” But there was no need because, as The Federalist noted, Gurganus, who has held “intelligence posts for more than 20 years and worked from 2014 to 2017 as an expert on Russia and Eurasia on the National Intelligence Council,” is very well known inside and outside the intelligence community.

The Federalist noted: “For years, Gurganus has flaunted her intelligence community credentials to harvest speaking engagements, public articles, and positions with prestigious organizations.”

“Julia Gurganus is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is on sabbatical from the CIA,” left-wing publication The Atlantic noted on its website.

The Federalist adds:

She previously served as a nonresident scholar with the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, according to the organization, which notes Gurganus’ “decades working in the U.S. intelligence community on issues related to Eurasia.” 

Her photo is included in a Women’s Foreign Policy Group report on Gurganus’ presentation at a 2018 “Beyond the Headlines discussion.” 

She spoke at AFCEA’s 2025 Spring Intelligence Symposium, a fact once again promoted online. The nonprofit identified her as senior executive manager for the Europe and Eurasia Mission Center, Central Intelligence Agency.

Forrest went on to quote a criticism of Gabbard from Larry Pfeiffer, describing him vaguely as a former chief of staff at the CIA without mentioning his time with the Obama administration.

“‘A smart [director of national intelligence] would have consulted with CIA’ before identifying the undercover officer,” Pfeiffer told the news outlet. “It could potentially put CIA cover procedures at risk. It could put relations with foreign governments at risk.”

The Federalist also pointed out that Pfeiffer, who has boasted of running the Situation Room during Obama’s administration, was one of the 50-plus intelligence community officials who falsely insinuated that Hunter Biden’s laptop was “Russian disinformation” ahead of the 2020 election.

Also, the outlet noted that “Gurganus was deeply involved in the infamous and highly politicized Intelligence Community Assessment” that served as the linchpin of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax.

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