President Joe Biden’s top intelligence official is appearing to grow weary of her role — and might not be staying in it even if Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris wins in November, according to Politico.
Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence (DNI), has years of experience in the intelligence community and has served under Biden since 2021. But with ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, Haines is seemingly ready to leave government — regardless of whether Harris or former President Donald Trump wins the Oval Office in the coming days, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Politico.
Part of Haines’ frustration seems to come from the role government plays in geopolitics, according to sources who spoke to Politico. Haines’ role is to provide information and intelligence, not to dictate policy — and she’s become displeased with that prospect.
Haines has played a critical role in providing intelligence regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, both of which have dragged on for over a year and have shown no signs of ending. Though she spoke little of her personal views on the matter, the U.S.’ role in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has been a particular point of contention for Haines, people familiar with her thinking told Politico.
The U.S. has largely been supportive of Israel’s war against Hamas over the last year, but the conflict has left swaths of the Gaza Strip in ruins and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
The war — and the rising civilian death toll — has left Haines disturbed, sources familiar with the matter told Politico.
“Government often is so detached from the individuals affected by the decisions we make,” Haines told Politico. “You have to work hard to incorporate them into your thinking and the decision-making process and surface the question: Are you actually improving society?”
“I’m cynical enough to realize that it is very easy to think you are making something better — perhaps particularly in government work,” Haines said. “And it turns out, you are not improving the situation; you might even have made it worse.”
Haines could be able to stay in her position or even be offered a different role in a potential Harris administration, given her years of experience, according to Politico. She was considered for Biden’s national security adviser role when Biden took office in 2021, although that role was ultimately given to Jake Sullivan.
But Haines hinted to Politico that her future may not be inside the intelligence community, or even in Washington.
“If I could contribute to a more ethical society, then I would be doing something to improve our discourse, decision-making and ultimately enhancing the quality of our lives,” Haines said. “I very much hope I can make such a contribution in the next phase of my professional life.
Haines would not be the only high-level Biden administration official leaving their role, even if Harris wins the White House in November. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signaled in August that he plans to resign from his post when Biden leaves the Oval Office in January.
It isn’t clear who would fill the top roles in a Harris administration, although Biden officials such as Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Bill Burns and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield have been rumored to be potential picks for roles, according to Politico. Harris herself has spoken little of who she chose to be in her orbit, though she said in October that a Republican might be one of them.
“I’m going to have a Republican in my Cabinet,” Harris said during an appearance on The View in early October. “You asked me what’s the difference between Joe Biden and me, well that will be one of the differences.”
The DNI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
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