The National Security Agency (NSA) detected a foreign intelligence phone call last spring involving someone close to Donald Trump, according to a whistleblower’s attorney. The alert raised concerns about the handling of highly classified information and stirred debate in Washington. The unusual call, picked up by the NSA, involved two members of foreign intelligence discussing a person linked to the former president. The communication was considered sensitive enough that the agency reported it to the director of national intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard. Instead of distributing the intelligence through standard channels, Gabbard reportedly took a paper copy of the report directly to President Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Following that meeting, she instructed the NSA not to publish the report. Instead, the agency was directed to transmit the details exclusively to her office, according to attorney Andrew Bakaj, who represents the whistleblower. Bakaj said the intelligence had remained under tight control for months. He added that the whistleblower raised formal complaints, alleging Gabbard blocked the report from routine dispatch to congressional intelligence committees. The complaint was filed on May 21 after initial contact with the inspector general in April. The whistleblower’s complaint was initially reviewed by the acting inspector general, Tamara A. Johnson, who said in a June 6 letter that the allegations could not be confirmed. The letter allowed the whistleblower to take concerns to Congress, but only after DNI guidance due to the report’s highly sensitive content. Bakaj clarified that the person close to Trump was not a government employee or administration official. He emphasized that the NSA does not monitor individuals without reason and that members of the intelligence community often seek his legal counsel due to his background, including work in the CIA inspector general’s office. A spokesperson for the office of the director of national intelligence called the story “false,” saying all actions by Gabbard were legal and within her authority. The statement claimed that previous investigations by both Biden-era and Trump-appointed inspectors general found the allegations against Gabbard to be baseless. The case has drawn criticism from lawmakers who question the independence of the watchdog office. Two weeks after the whistleblower first contacted the inspector general, Gabbard assigned her top adviser, Dennis Kirk, to the office, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. For eight months, the intelligence report has remained undisclosed, despite repeated requests by the whistleblower. The report is considered highly classified and its contents are closely held by DNI officials. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between intelligence oversight, whistleblower protections, and the handling of sensitive information linked to political figures. Analysts say the case underscores the challenges intelligence agencies face when politically sensitive data intersects with national security protocols. Legal experts note that whistleblowers play a key role in monitoring the intelligence community, but navigating classified channels can be complex, particularly when senior officials direct the flow of information. The NSA’s detection of a Trump-linked intelligence call shows the agency’s routine monitoring of foreign communications with potential national security implications. While the report’s specifics remain classified, the public disclosure of whistleblower complaints has fueled scrutiny over how intelligence is managed and shared. This episode adds to a growing list of politically sensitive intelligence controversies, with lawmakers calling for clear guidelines to ensure whistleblowers can raise concerns without interference while protecting national security interests.