The trans CIA official ousted by Trump

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Published: 2026-09-15T11:10:38.680Z • Permanent link

Julia Curlee, a former senior CIA officer, has been ousted from her position, marking a significant development in the ongoing purge of national security staff by the Trump administration. According to reports, Curlee was a key figure in shaping the CIA's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have been a focal point of criticism from some quarters. Her departure is seen as part of a broader effort to reshape the agency's culture and priorities, with some analysts suggesting that the move is aimed at weakening the CIA's commitment to these values.

Curlee's ouster has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights and civil liberties groups, who have accused the Trump administration of seeking to undermine the CIA's ability to collect and analyze data on human rights abuses and other sensitive topics. "The Trump administration's purge of national security staff is a clear attempt to suppress the CIA's ability to provide accurate and unbiased intelligence on human rights issues," said Sarah Benincasa, a senior analyst at Human Rights Watch. "We urge the incoming administration to reverse this decision and restore the CIA's commitment to these critical issues.

Meanwhile, the White House has released a statement saying that Curlee's departure was a result of a routine personnel review, and that her replacement will be announced in due course. However, sources close to the agency suggest that Curlee's ouster was a deliberate attempt to silence her on issues related to the CIA's handling of the Iran war and the agency's failure to prevent a terrorist attack in the region. "Julia Curlee was a vocal critic of the Trump administration's handling of the Iran war, and her departure is a clear attempt to muzzle her," said one intelligence insider.

The ouster of Julia Curlee has significant implications for the research community, particularly those focused on national security and human rights issues. The CIA's commitment to DEI initiatives has been seen as a key factor in improving the agency's ability to collect and analyze data on sensitive topics, and her departure may undermine this effort. "The CIA's commitment to DEI is critical to its ability to provide accurate and unbiased intelligence on human rights issues," said Rachel Kleiman, a researcher at the Brookings Institution. "We will be closely monitoring the agency's efforts to restore its commitment to these values and ensure that the CIA continues to prioritize human rights and civil liberties in its work.

The impact of Curlee's ouster may also be felt in the market for intelligence and security products, particularly those related to human rights and counter-terrorism. Companies such as Palantir and IBM have already begun to invest heavily in these areas, and the Trump administration's purge of national security staff may create a window of opportunity for these companies to expand their offerings. "The Trump administration's purge of national security staff is a clear indication that the agency is no longer committed to collecting and analyzing data on sensitive topics," said Michael D'Andrea, a former CIA officer turned entrepreneur. "We will be closely monitoring the agency's efforts to restore its commitment to these values and ensure that the CIA continues to prioritize human rights and civil liberties in its work.

The ouster of Julia Curlee is part of a larger pattern of efforts to reshape the national security establishment in the United States. The Trump administration has already made significant changes to the CIA's leadership and priorities, including the appointment of Gina Haspel as the agency's director. Haspel has been a vocal critic of the CIA's commitment to human rights and civil liberties, and her appointment has been seen as a clear indication that the agency is no longer committed to these values. "The Trump administration's purge of national security staff is a clear attempt to suppress the CIA's ability to provide accurate and unbiased intelligence on human rights issues," said Robert Parry, a journalist and author who has written extensively on the CIA's role in the Iran war.