Former CIA Director Burns accuses Trump administration of pursuing a ‘campaign of retribution’

Published September 9, 2025 7:56pm ET



William Burns, the previous Central Intelligence Agency director, accused the Trump administration of enacting “a campaign of retribution” under “the guise of a reform process” on Tuesday.

The Biden administration’s CIA chief gave his scathing rebuke of the current administration’s transformation of the intelligence community during an event with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.