The staff at the National Security Agency (NSA) feel like the White House is neglecting them post NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's revelation of the agency's surveillance activities.
Apparently, the NSA feels orphaned and is hoping that President Barack Obama will boost the morale of its staff members. The NSA is apparently dismayed that Obama has not visited the agency to show solidarity and support, per former officials.
The news comes courtesy of a Washington Post report which was published on Saturday, December 7 and reveals former agency officials as its sources.
"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, NSA inspector general from 2002 to 2006. "They feel they've been hung out to dry, and they're right."
However, a spokesperson for White House revealed that top officials had visited the NSA to "express the president's support and appreciation for all that NSA does to keep us safe."
Denis McDonough ,White House Chief of Staff , had visited Fort Meade, NSA's headquarters, in Maryland to express the President's support. However ,at this juncture, it is not known whether Obama will travel to Fort Meade if at all.
Meanwhile, NSA employees are not too happy with the current state of affairs and the stance taken by the White House.
"The president has multiple constituencies - I get it. But he must agree that the signals intelligence NSA is providing is one of the most important sources of intelligence today. So if that's the case, why isn't the president taking care of one of the most important elements of the national security apparatus?" said a former official, on condition of anonymity to The Washington Post.
The morale of NSA staff is "bad overall," per former officials and several employees are sprucing their resumes and asking they be cleared so that they can seek other opportunities.
"The news - the Snowden disclosures - it questions the integrity of the NSA workforce," noted the former official. "It's become very public and very personal. Literally, neighbors are asking people, 'Why are you spying on Grandma?' And we aren't. People are feeling bad, beaten down."
In November, a review group was asked to make recommendations for changes to NSA's programs and presented its initial findings to White House officials. The report is due on December 15.
"We expect that the outcomes of their work will be made public in some way once the final report is submitted," said White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.
