Retired United States Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, a former U.S. National Security Advisor, has called on President Donald Trump to shut down the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), alleging that the spy agency no longer serves the interests of the American people, officials said on February 1, 2026. Flynn made the remarks in a public post on his official social media account amid ongoing debate over the role and scope of U.S. intelligence agencies.
In his post, Flynn said the CIA has become an institution that protects itself rather than ensuring the “security of the United States.” He wrote, “That agency exists for itself and not for the benefit of the American people nor for the security of the United States.” Flynn also referenced comments attributed to former President John F. Kennedy, saying, “President JFK was right… The CIA should have been split into a million pieces and scattered to the winds.” Flynn urged immediate action, tagging President Trump as well as Vice President J.D. Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in his message and insisting that the spy agency be “SHUT IT DOWN NOW!!!” He framed his position as part of a broader critique of what he perceives as entrenched bureaucratic power that, in his view, no longer aligns with national security priorities.
Flynn served as the 24th U.S. National Security Advisor for the first 22 days of Trump’s first administration before resigning amid controversy over his conduct in office. His military career included senior intelligence roles, including as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, a position he held until his retirement in 2014. Critics of his comments have said such rhetoric reflects deep tensions within U.S. policy debates over the future of the country’s intelligence community.