Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Video Archive Almanac
About Feedback Privacy Policy
About Feedback Privacy Policy
Search
Trending
Justin Timberlake
India rape
Execution
Lottery
Edible cups
SpaceX
San Francisco 49ers
Lyft
Traffic sand sculpture
Winter storm
U.S. News
Nov. 20, 2016 / 11:00 AM / Updated Nov. 21, 2016 at 5:50 AM

Obama officials want NSA chief, possible Trump Cabinet pick Mike Rogers fired

By
Allen Cone
Director of the National Security Agency Mike Rogers is pictured at a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the formation for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, at it's headquarters on April 24, 2015, in McClean, Va. Sources with knowledge of the matter said the Obama administration wanted to fire Rogers before the Nov. 8 election because he is allegedly aloof at meetings and doesn't listen to staff input. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- National Security Agency director Adm. Mike Rogers, a potential pick for national intelligence director in the Trump administration, might be fired by the current Obama administration.

Pentagon and the nation's intelligence community leaders want Rogers, 57, out because of perceived failures fighting the Islamic State and lax security, sources told NBC News. The New York Times and The Washington Post also reported President Barack Obama is considering removing the four-star general from his post.

Rogers met with President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss the job of director of national intelligence, a Cabinet-level position overseeing 16 intelligence agencies.

The NSA is an intelligence agency but part of the Defense Department.

RELATED National Intelligence Director James Clapper resigns

The White House, Pentagon and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and the current director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., recommended removing Rogers last month. The New York Times' sources said the decision was not related to Trump's interest in naming him.

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of Trump's transition team, has defended him. He wrote a letter to Carter and Clapper, asking them to testify before his committee to explain why they want Rogers removed.

RELATED Donald Trump, Mitt Romney meet amid speculation on secretary of state job

"It's not by accident that Admiral Rogers meets with the president-elect and two days later this story, which is completely built on lies, appears," Nunes said in an interview with The Times.

Rogers took command in April 2014 after the disclosure of widespread surveillance by Edward J. Snowden, the former NSA contractor. His work to prevent cyber-attacks was insufficient, sources told The Times.

Officials expected to replace Rogers before the Nov. 8 election, sources told The Washington Post.

RELATED Trump administration taking shape; Romney, Giuliani, Palin possible picks for key roles

"It was going to be part of a full package," the official told the newspaper. "The idea was not for any kind of public firing."

Clapper has pushed for the separation of leadership roles at the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and wants the NSA to be headed by a civilian.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, threatened to block any such nominee if the leadership at the NSA and Cyber Command were split.

Rogers, whose term is due to end in the spring, is aloof, frequently absent and does not listen to staff input, according to Washington Post sources.

Carter has not been happy with how he is handling the U.S. Cyber Command's cyber-offensive against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

  • Topics
  • Mike Rogers
  • Donald Trump
  • Devin Nunes
  • Barack Obama
  • John McCain
  • Islamic State

Latest Headlines

Video from cell where a sick teen died doesn't match Border Patrol report
U.S. News // 28 minutes ago
Video from cell where a sick teen died doesn't match Border Patrol report
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- ProPublica has obtained video that documents a 16-year-old migrant's last hours. It shows that Border Patrol agents and healthcare workers missed increasingly obvious signs that his conditon was perilous.

Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves to retire from U.S. House in 2020
U.S. News // 38 minutes ago
Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves to retire from U.S. House in 2020
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves announced Thursday that he would retire from the U.S. House at the end of his term next year.

Watch live: Trump lights National Christmas Tree
U.S. News // 50 minutes ago
Watch live: Trump lights National Christmas Tree
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump is scheduled to light the National Christmas Tree on Thursday night at the White House Ellipse.

Trump asks Supreme Court to rule in House subpoena of financial records
U.S. News // 1 hour ago
Trump asks Supreme Court to rule in House subpoena of financial records
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's legal time asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to hear a case in which House Democrats seek to access his financial documents.

FBI warning: Web-connected 'smart' TVs can watch owners
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
FBI warning: Web-connected 'smart' TVs can watch owners
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the American public about a peculiar possibility -- that their smart televisions have the capability to watch them.

Poll: Most in U.S. still favor private healthcare, but numbers falling
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
Poll: Most in U.S. still favor private healthcare, but numbers falling
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A majority of Americans still prefer private health insurance over government-run alternatives, a new Gallup survey shows -- but support for public coverage continues to rise.

GM, LG unveil $2.3B plan for electric battery plant in Ohio
U.S. News // 4 hours ago
GM, LG unveil $2.3B plan for electric battery plant in Ohio
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- General Motors announced a new joint venture Thursday with South Korean conglomerate LG to produce battery cells for electric vehicles, a move the automaker said will mean more than 1,000 new jobs in northeast Ohio.

Weekly U.S. jobless claims come in well below expectations at 203,000
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Weekly U.S. jobless claims come in well below expectations at 203,000
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. jobless claims dropped to a surprisingly low level in weekly figures released Thursday, giving a boost to sentiment that the labor market remains strong despite a slowing global economy.

United CEO Oscar Munoz to leave post in May
U.S. News // 6 hours ago
United CEO Oscar Munoz to leave post in May
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- United Airlines announced a leadership change Thursday, saying CEO Oscar Munoz will leave the post in May and will be replaced by President Scott Kirby.

Huawei sues FCC in bid to fight off U.S. restrictions
U.S. News // 7 hours ago
Huawei sues FCC in bid to fight off U.S. restrictions
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Huawei said Thursday it has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in an effort to rollback the agency's restrictions on the Chinese telecommunications company.

Trending Stories

Old Man Winter's next blow to come in form of major storm
Old Man Winter's next blow to come in form of major storm
Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
SpaceX launches 19th cargo mission to space station with robot aboard
SpaceX launches 19th cargo mission to space station with robot aboard
Trump administration unveils rule dropping 688,000 from food stamp program
Trump administration unveils rule dropping 688,000 from food stamp program
3 killed, including gunman, in Pearl Harbor shipyard shooting
3 killed, including gunman, in Pearl Harbor shipyard shooting

Photo Gallery

 
On the red carpet at the International Emmy Awards
On the red carpet at the International Emmy Awards

Latest News

British dog gives birth to litter of 21 puppies
Caroline Kennedy, former NASA administrator to christen USS John F. Kennedy
Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves to retire from U.S. House in 2020
Watch live: Trump lights National Christmas Tree
Stray Kids share 'Levanter' music video teaser
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy