Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has publicly accused Washington Post reporter Ellen Nakashima of actively harassing staff members at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Gabbard alleges that Nakashima used a burner phone to contact high-level intelligence officers, refused to identify herself, and sought classified information outside official press channels. She called on the Washington Post to intervene and stop what she described as harassment. The Washington Post responded by rejecting Gabbard's claims as unfounded, defending Nakashima's journalistic conduct and criticizing the accusations as a personal attack. The dispute has drawn attention to tensions between the intelligence community and the media, with some commentators framing Gabbard's accusations as an abuse of power that could undermine press freedom and public trust in institutions.