Morale at the National Security Agency has taken a hit ever since former contractor Edward Snowden leaked troves of details about the agency’s sweeping surveillance operations earlier this year, according to a new report.
Current and former NSA officials told the Washington Post that morale suffered in the wake of Snowden’s revelations, and that many employees feel President Barack Obama hasn’t done enough to publicly support their efforts. The Post cited several current and former officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, but the agency’s former inspector general echoed the complaints.
“The agency, from top to bottom, leadership to rank and file, feels that it is had no support from the White House even though it’s been carrying out publicly approved intelligence missions,” said Joel Brenner, the NSA’s inspector general from 2002 to 2006. “They feel they’ve been hung out to dry, and they’re right.”
A White House spokeswoman said top administration officials have been to the agency to “express the president’s support and appreciation for all that NSA does to keep us safe.”