EXPERTS NEED NOT APPLY:The Dead Drop has learned that NSA Director General Timothy Haugh (who also serves as Commander of U.S. Cyber Command) and NSA Deputy Director Wendy Noble were unexpectedly told on Thursday that their services were no longer needed, decapitating the leadership - in an abrupt way - of the signals agency that some argue is the most important part of the national security community. We're told that General Haugh was offered the opportunity to either retire or become a two-star general (he's a four-star now, so the math really doesn't add up) and that Noble - a 30-year NSA veteran - was offered reassignment to USDI or to retire. There are so many questions about why the decision was made - and why it was carried out in this way (we're told General Haugh was on TDY when he got a call with an order to 'get on a plane') - but perhaps the most important question is who will lead the agency until replacements are announced. If you think this is just another personnel move from the new administration, you're not really reading the room. "This will adversely affect the intelligence mission of NSA and the cyber mission of USCC because of the unexpected nature of the firings and the disruption it will cause to plans and programs that both were intimately involved in running," according to a source with knowledge of the details around the move. "Additionally, it will have a huge impact on morale at both organizations, as it is a clear message that "your intelligence and expertise don't matter, only your perceived loyalty matters." The Dead Drop has reached out to NSA for comment. We'll be paying close attention to the experience of the replacements, too.
“YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH”:The New York Times reports that in an effort to comply with directions from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, officials at Annapolis started identifying books that may need to be removed from the school’s Nimitz Library that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion topics. Spokesman Commander Tim Hawkins said, “The U.S. Naval Academy is fully committed to executing and implementing all directives outlined in executive orders issued by the president and is currently reviewing the Nimitz Library collection to ensure compliance.” Hawkins added, “The Navy is carrying out these actions with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives.” Honestly, we have no freaking idea how banning these books from the library could be a national security objective, but The Times reported that some 900 books had been singled out as being potentially problematic. Spies tell us they include The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr., Einstein on Race and Racism, and a biography of baseball great Jackie Robinson. The Associated Press reported that about 400 of the 900 books on the list were deemed unsuitable for midshipmen’s eyes and that the weeding out process had been completed before Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the Academy last Tuesday. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point said they would review their library if so ordered – but so far, apparently hadn’t gotten the order. We note that one of the two New York Times reporters who broke the story was a Navy veteran who served eight years as a bomb disposal technician after attending the Naval Academy. Bet he never saw this bombshell coming.
BRING YOUR FAMILY TO WORK DAY:The Wall Street Journal reports that on at least two occasions, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has brought his spouse (former Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth) to meetings with foreign counterparts where “sensitive information was discussed.” As far as we know, Mrs. Hegseth doesn’t have a security clearance – although let’s be honest, in recent weeks, the rules around whether someone even needs a clearance - and how they might get one - seem to be loosening up. But it was super interesting when not long after that was reported, the Associated Press reported that Hegseth’s younger brother, Phil, is now working for the Department of Homeland Security as a senior adviser and liaison to the Department of Defense. We’re sure Phil is a great advisor to his brother and probably has been for decades, but we couldn’t resist looking into his credentials for the advisor job (cause that’s just what we do). The younger Hegseth’s qualifications include having run his own podcast production company and working on media relations for the Concerned Veterans for America where his brother served as CEO. We’re sure there’s probably more – we just couldn’t find it. AP says that DHS confirmed the new assignment saying the “interagency mission is part of Mr. Hegseth’s preview (sic)” but they might have meant to say “purview”. (On the other hand – maybe, as a family member, Phil gets an advance look at the war plans – which we guess could then make it a “preview.”)
KNOW YOUR NEGOTIATORS: By now, you already likely know that U.S. and Russian negotiators met in Saudi Arabia to talk about the future of Ukraine on March 24. The talks focused on a possible cease fire in and around Ukraine and other steps intended to move toward ending the war altogether. One of the lead negotiators on the Russian side though, was Sergey Beseda who is a former head of the 5th Service of Russians Federal Security Service (FSB.) Media accounts suggest that Beseda was among the most influential officials who told Russian President Vladimir Putin back in 2022 that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be over and won in a matter of a few days. With judgment like that – he’s probably predicting a rapid resolution to any stalemate. According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov has described Beseda as “a very problematic person for Ukraine” and “a very problematic person” in general. But Budanov seemed sanguine about it all a couple years ago when he said of Beseda “He has done a lot of evil for Ukraine. It is fine, time will sort everything out.” Just a note on Budanov, The Cipher Briefsat down with him personally in Kyiv a year after Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion (and it was brutal) and honestly, this guy is one intense military intelligence leader. If he were to ever say something like “time will sort everything out”, we’d be looking for the exit, before he found it for us.
BOOK REPORTS: We hear that Georgetown University professor Dr. Sean McFate has landed a deal to write Fire Starters: How the Dark Arts Can Destroy Autocracy and Defend America. The book, to be published by St. Martin’s Press, is said to call for “a massive strategic expansion of subversion, covert action, and deception” so that America can “counter nuclear autocracies and preserve democracies.” A former Army paratrooper who served with the 82nd Airborne, McFate has written several novels, and an earlier work of non-fiction titled, The New Rules of War. It’s an interesting title. One that will be sure to keep the deep state seekers busy for a long time.
We also hear that another former Army veteran and professor, ML Cavanaugh, who used to teach at West Point is working on a book tentatively titled, Who Wins Wars, which is said to be about “some of America's greatest military minds, featuring fresh insights from both historical figures and modern 4-star generals, admirals, and supreme commanders that help readers better understand leadership, power, and strategy and bring them inside the art of the better decision.” No pub date on that one yet.
And finally, if these are times that drive you to drink (we are admittedly in that group from time to time just trying to keep up will all the gossip-worthy content these days), we wanna give you a little clue that a new cocktail book is coming out soon. All we can really say is that the book features the drinking stories (and recipes) of a few former senior CIA Officers who have served in stations around the world and who have dutifully (of course) spent their fair share of time in watering holes both nice and not-so-nice as part of their mission. The book should be out in time for Father’s Day, making it about the coolest gift ever. Keep reading right here for your chance to pre-order in the coming weeks.
DON’T FORGET TO POUR YOURSELF A STRONG ONE, ADD US TO YOUR SIGNAL CHAT GROUPS AND FIRE AWAY SOME INFO TO: TheDeadDrop@theCipherBrief.com
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