Trans CIA Official Ousted by Trump Exposes Government Dysfunction 2026

When the White House fired Julia Curlee, a transgender CIA official, from her senior intelligence position in March 2025, her boss had an odd request: please still show up to work on Monday, but be “discreet”. The longtime CIA analyst had served in Donald Trump’s first term, briefing Vice-President Mike Pence; worked for Joe Biden as a national security director; and stayed on for Trump’s return. She had known her days might be numbered as the incoming White House was ousting national security staffers en masse. Curlee is also transgender, which made her particularly vulnerable as the new administration made anti-trans policies a top priority.

But she didn’t understand her boss’s message until she opened her phone and saw the X post: “SCOOP: A transgender, Biden holdover who hates President Trump is still working in the [National Security Council] intel office,” wrote Laura Loomer, the far-right social media influencer known to have Trump’s ear. “If you are aware of this person and have their name, please send it to me and I will post their identity.” Curlee was serving as a director for intelligence programs, leading Situation Room sessions, and her identity as a trans woman was well known. But now that she had been targeted online, the White House decided to remove her, though not before she returned to work and – quietly – finished vital tasks.

“It was absolutely not a problem for this administration to have me briefing the president one day and then to turn around and say that I’m a threat to national security the next,” Curlee told The Guardian in an exclusive interview. Her story highlights a growing concern: a government crippled by its own decisions, where political loyalty and culture wars override expertise and national security.

The Rise and Fall of a Trans CIA Official

Julia Curlee’s career spanned multiple administrations, earning her a reputation as a consummate professional. She served as a senior analyst and later as a director for intelligence programs, where she led Situation Room sessions and provided critical briefings to the president and vice president. Her expertise was sought after by both Republican and Democratic administrations.

However, her identity as a transgender woman made her a target in an increasingly polarized political climate. The Trump administration’s anti-trans policies, which included banning transgender individuals from military service and rolling back healthcare protections, created a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ government employees. Curlee’s ousting was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of purging national security staffers deemed insufficiently loyal.

How Anti-Trans Policies Undermine National Security

The removal of experienced intelligence professionals like Curlee has far-reaching consequences. National security relies on a diverse workforce with specialized skills and institutional knowledge. When political considerations trump merit, the government loses critical expertise and becomes less effective at addressing complex threats.

Moreover, the use of social media influencers like Laura Loomer to target government employees creates a chilling effect. It discourages qualified individuals from serving and fosters a culture of fear and conformity. As Curlee noted, “We’re a government crippled by its own decisions.”

• Political loyalty over expertise: The Trump administration prioritized loyalty, ousting experienced professionals.
• Anti-trans policies: These policies created a hostile work environment and targeted transgender employees.
• Social media targeting: Influencers like Laura Loomer weaponized social media to expose and harass government workers.
• National security impact: The loss of institutional knowledge weakens the government’s ability to address threats.

FAQ

Curlee’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of politicizing national security. As she put it, “We’re a government crippled by its own decisions.” The consequences of such decisions will be felt for years to come.