Aug. 9 (UPI) — Sue Gordon, the deputy director of national intelligence, plans to step down from the agency later this month, President Donald Trump announced Thursday.
Trump said her departure will be Aug. 15, the same day Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats leaves.
“Sue Gordon is a great professional with a long and distinguished career,” the president tweeted. “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. A new Acting Director of National Intelligence will be named shortly.”
Under usual protocol, Gordon would have been named acting director of the agency had she remained.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after Trump announced Coats’ departure. Coats served in the role since 2017.
Trump initially nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, to replace, but the congressman withdrew his name from consideration. Trump cited media scrutiny as the reason for the Texas Republican’s decision to remain in the House.
The position of director of national intelligence was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks as a means of fostering inter-agency dialogue and cooperation among the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence-gathering network.
