Senior congressional leaders from both parties met for a classified Gang of Eight intelligence briefing with administration officials ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, raising eyebrows.
The "Gang of Eight" refers to the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence panels. This group receives the most sensitive national security briefings, particularly on crises that could involve imminent military action or deepening overseas commitments.
These briefings are conducted under strict confidentiality to protect sources and methods, and participants are barred from disclosing classified information publicly. These meetings are often convened when developments have potential implications for U.S. military engagement, covert operations, or national security emergencies. Lawmakers attending today's session are expected to receive detailed briefings on current intelligence assessments before the president's address.
Those present at the briefing included House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Intelligence committee leadership also attended, including Rep. Rick Crawford, Rep. Jim Himes, Sen. Tom Cotton, and Sen. Mark Warner.
However, according to Global Affairs Correspondent for Axios, Barak Ravid, CIA Director John Ratcliffe will join the meeting as well. Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman and former Director of National Intelligence, was confirmed as CIA Director amid debate over the balance between political influence and intelligence independence.
The meeting was notable both for its timing and its participants. Convening the group just hours before a State of the Union address is uncommon and typically signals that intelligence developments are considered urgent or potentially consequential for U.S. foreign policy or military posture. In this case, the presence of the CIA director alongside senior administration officials signaled that the briefing involved core intelligence assessments rather than routine policy updates.
As tensions in the Middle East have heightened, especially concerns about Iran's nuclear program and regional activities, the briefing took on increased urgency. The Guardian reported that Secretary Rubio will brief the Gang of Eight on Iran. According to Reuters, the White House signaled that diplomacy remains the administration's preferred engagement strategy, but officials also stressed that military options remain on the table should negotiations falter.
Jeffries, who is part of the Gang of Eight, has previously made public demands for timely briefings on national security matters. Last year, Jeffries publicly stated he had asked for Gang of Eight intelligence updates on U.S.-Iran strategy amid rising regional tensions, underlining Democratic concerns about legislative oversight timelines.
