U.S. President Donald Trump is set to nominate Aaron Lukas as deputy to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, according to a source familiar with the plan. Gabbard, a former U.S. representative with limited intelligence experience, was confirmed last week in a 52-48 Senate vote along party lines.
Lukas, a career government official with extensive national security experience, previously served as an intelligence aide to then-acting DNI Ric Grenell in 2020 during Trump’s first term. His nomination as principal deputy director of national intelligence, a role requiring Senate confirmation, is expected to add expertise to Gabbard’s leadership.
With over 21 years as a foreign service officer, Lukas held key roles in U.S. foreign policy. He served as senior director for Europe and Russia at the White House National Security Council during the final year of Trump’s first term. Before his government career, he worked at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
The White House has yet to comment on Lukas’s nomination. If confirmed, he would play a critical role in overseeing U.S. intelligence operations under Gabbard’s leadership.
The nomination highlights Trump’s efforts to shape the intelligence community as he prepares for a potential return to the White House. With growing global security challenges, Lukas’s background in foreign policy and intelligence is expected to bolster the administration’s approach to national security.
Stay updated for further developments on this nomination and its impact on U.S. intelligence operations.