President Donald Trump
The president announced on Twitter that Sue Gordon, the principal deputy director of national intelligence, will step down on Aug. 15, the same day her boss of the last two years, Dan Coats, is slated to leave.
“Sue Gordon is a great professional with a long and distinguished career. I have gotten to know Sue over the past 2 years and have developed great respect for her. Sue has announced she will be leaving on August 15, which coincides with the retirement of Dan Coats,” Trump wrote.
“A new Acting Director of National Intelligence will be named shortly.”Gordon was in line to replace Coats at least in an acting capacity until Trump nominated a successor to oversee the nation’s clandestine community. The president initially tapped Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) for the position, but the Texas Republican quickly withdrew following a barrage of unflattering media stories about his background and his brief tenure on the House Intelligence Committee.
“Sue Gordon’s retirement is a significant loss for our Intelligence Community,” Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who was adamant Gordon take the reins when Coats left, said in a statement.
“In more than three decades of public service, Sue earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues with her patriotism and vision,” Burr added. She has been a stalwart partner to the Senate Intelligence Committee, and I will miss her candor and deep knowledge of the issues. I look forward to seeing what new challenges she will tackle next.”
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine