CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Monday the government shutdown won’t dictate how his agency does its job.
“We’re gonna continue crushing our adversaries, whether the government’s open or closed,” Mr. Pompeo said on CBS News.
He said that, unlike some lawmakers who see the shutdown as a sign of America’s weakness on the world stage, he believes it shows the care that’s put into deciding where the U.S. puts their funds.
“The American people are having complicated discussions about their priorities. I think that’s entirely appropriate in a democracy,” Mr. Pompeo said.
He added that on the national security front, the agency is dealing with an increasing threat from North Korea in ways they were not a year ago. He said the regime is only “a handful of months” away from being able to launch a nuclear attack on the U.S.
This is not the first time the leader has used that expression, however, adding that the U.S. is working hard to prevent that from being a possibility.
“The United States government is working diligently to extend that timeline,” Mr. Pompeo said.
He said that he’s hoping to continue to say “a handful of months” for the foreseeable future.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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