— Senator Mark Warner said a planned visit to the National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency in Virginia was called off after far‑right activist Laura Loomer launched an online campaign against him and the agency’s director.
Key takeaways
- A scheduled oversight meeting at the NGA was rescinded on or before 4 September 2025.
- Sen. Mark Warner attributes the cancellation to online attacks by Laura Loomer.
- The decision was, Warner says, made by the office of the defense secretary.
- Loomer publicly celebrated the cancellation and urged Warner’s removal from the Senate intelligence committee.
- Warner warns the move undermines civilian oversight and the nonpartisan staff at the NGA.
Verified facts
Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice‑chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had planned an in‑person engagement with staff at the National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency in Virginia as part of routine congressional oversight. Warner publicly said the invitation was rescinded after sustained social‑media attacks by Laura Loomer.
Warner described the online campaign as “baseless attacks” and said the cancellation was arranged by the office of the defense secretary, according to his statements released on 4 September 2025. He characterized the decision as politically motivated and harmful to the principle of civilian oversight of intelligence agencies.
Laura Loomer, a far‑right activist whose recent roles have included advising senior figures in the Trump administration on national security matters, posted messages criticizing Warner and celebrating the briefing’s cancellation. Loomer also told the New York Times she believed Warner should be removed from his committee position and, in her words, “tried for treason.” These statements are reported as her public remarks.
Context & impact
The cancellation highlights a growing tension over access, oversight, and political influence in national security institutions. Warner argues that members of Congress routinely meet agency staff to conduct oversight, and that blocking such engagements creates a dangerous precedent.
Observers say the episode may deepen concerns about partisan pressure on career intelligence personnel, and could complicate future congressional engagements with the NGA and other agencies if the practice spreads.
- Potential short term effect: reduced on‑site oversight visits by some lawmakers.
- Potential long term effect: questions over whether political appointees will set new conditions for congressional access.
Official statements
“This nakedly political decision undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at [the] NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security.”
Sen. Mark Warner
Unconfirmed
- Whether the defense secretary’s office acted directly because of specific requests from Loomer or as a response to broader political concerns is not independently confirmed.
- The internal rationale and communications within the administration that led to the rescinding of the invitation have not been publicly released.
Bottom line
The cancellation of Sen. Warner’s NGA visit underscores a fraught moment for intelligence oversight, raising questions about how political influence and activist pressure may reshape access to agencies that rely on nonpartisan trust. Lawmakers and agency leaders now face pressure to clarify norms for congressional engagements to prevent similar disputes.