Democratic leaders in the US Congress have expressed displeasure after learning that General Tim Ho, the director of the National Security Agency, has been fired. One noted that this move “puts all of us at risk of security.”
According to reports published by The Washington Post, Tim Ho and his deputy, Wendy Noble, were dismissed. General Ho also headed the US Cyber Command, responsible for the Pentagon’s cybersecurity. Three officials, two current and one former, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed the news.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: “General Ho has served our country for more than three decades with distinction and dedication. At a time when the United States faces unprecedented threats from cyberattacks, how can his removal make us any more secure?”
Representative Jim Hymes of Connecticut, a key member of the House Intelligence Committee, admitted that he was “afflicted” by the decision. “General Ho is an honest and principled leader who has acted within the law and has prioritized national security. I believe those qualities make him undesirable to this administration,” Hymes said. He argued that “this decision, which makes us more vulnerable, is an immediate explanation.
