The NCTC is in the news as top officials resign over political and ideological clashes, highlighting ongoing US counterterrorism tensions.
On March 17, 2026, Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned, opposing the ongoing war with Iran. Kent stated Iran posed no imminent threat and accused Israeli officials and American media of pressuring the US into conflict. His resignation marks the highest-profile dissent within the Trump administration over the Iran war.
Joe Kent has resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, saying he cannot support the Iran war. He has alleged Israel and its American allies pressured the administration into taking action. The FBI is investigating whether he leaked classified materials. Kent has given media interviews asserting there are unanswered questions about Kirk’s death and related inquiries.