Why a former CSIS official says the U.S. is positioned for ‘another 9/11’

Former CSIS executive manager Dan Stanton said that President Donald Trump was 'degrading the efficiency' of U.S. intelligence through layoffs and buyouts of officials.

A former Canadian intelligence official is warning recent cuts by the new U.S. administration to its intelligence agencies could position the country for “another 9/11.”

Dan Stanton, a former executive manager for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said in an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson that cuts are “degrading the efficiency” of the U.S. intelligence community, which could have a much bigger impact than just America’s borders.

“Breaking up the FBI, buyouts at the CIA, other agencies as well,” he said. “That is basically positioning the United States for another 9/11 and, by extension, Canada’s vulnerable. So weakened national security in the United States impacts on us.”

Last week, the CIA confirmed it had offered buyouts to employees to spur voluntary resignations.

It was a reversal of the initial plans for CIA and other national security agencies to be exempt.

At the end of January, the Trump administration also moved to fire prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot criminal cases and demanded names of agents involved in those same probes to possibly cut them as well.

It was a move some bureau employees told The Associated Press could be a precursor to more expansive firings.

Asked what impact cuts to experienced intelligence officers could have, Stanton said it would mean the people who replace them may not know what they’re doing, causing the intelligence community to “lose our eye on the target.”