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March 19, 2020 05:22 PM
Richard Grenell: Acting counterterrorism chief retiring, not fired
"The acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center is retiring in the latest Trump administration shakeup.
Russell Travers, who took over the organization after Joseph Maguire departed to assume the role of acting director of national intelligence, is leaving after more than 40 years of government service, a spokesperson confirmed on Thursday. He made his decision known to Richard Grenell, Maguire's replacement as acting spy chief, who denied a report citing former officials who said Travers and his deputy were fired.
“We are grateful for acting Director Russ Travers’s many years of service to the American people. Russ told acting Director Grenell he wanted to retire and that he did not want another assignment,” Amanda Schoch, assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications, told the Washington Examiner.
“Russ’s willingness to step up and serve as the acting director of NCTC multiple times is an example of his commitment to serve this vital mission. He has given NCTC many years of great service,” she added.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also confirmed the acting deputy director, Peter Hall, would return to the National Security Agency.
President Trump intends to nominate Christopher Miller, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combating terrorism, to fill the permanent director role at the NCTC. Schoch said the decision to nominate Miller has been “well received across the intelligence community” and that, if confirmed, he will “bring a new vision” to the center.
Falling under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the NCTC was set up following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and its mission is to "integrate" the national counterterrorism effort.
The statement followed a report from the Washington Post that cited former U.S. officials claiming Travers's exit could be part of a purge by the administration. The report said Travers and Hall were fired, an assertion that Grenell publicly denied.
"Not true," Grenell said, referring to a tweet by the story's author. "And Ellen is refusing to update her erroneous story with ON THE RECORD quotes from DNI press officials. This is a concerning pattern."
With the threats posed by terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and al Qaeda greatly diminished, the size of the NCTC force, which is the largest part of ODNI, is under review.
Schoch said Grenell and other ODNI officials have been looking into reform recommendations from former directors. “Our hope is that these reforms will posture NCTC to lead the counterterrorism mission into the future," she added.
Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a staunch ally of the president, was named acting DNI in February after Maguire resigned. Trump renominated GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas for the permanent DNI role, and he awaits Senate confirmation.
The latest ODNI realignment comes after the director of the government’s Office of Personnel Management abruptly stepped down on Tuesday.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/richard-grenell-acting-counterterrorism-chief-retiring-not-fired