The Pentagon has removed the name of former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper from an auditorium at Defense Intelligence Agency headquarters, renaming it after a Revolutionary War-era military intelligence figure.
The facility at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., had been designated as the "Clapper Leadership Hall" but is now called the "Thomas Knowlton Leadership Hall," according to defense officials.
Clapper served as DNI from 2010 to 2017 under Presidents Obama and Trump. He was a career intelligence officer who also directed the DIA earlier in his career.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have also offered limited public comment on the auditorium renaming. Some defense analysts note that Thomas Knowlton, after whom the facility is now named, was a colonel in the Continental Army who established one of the first American military intelligence organizations during the Revolutionary War.
Defense officials have not provided detailed explanations for why Clapper's name was removed from the facility.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have not issued formal statements about the renaming, as details about the reasoning behind the decision remain limited. Supporters of Clapper note his decades of public service across multiple administrations and his role in overseeing intelligence community reforms following the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War intelligence failures.
Some observers suggest the name change reflects a broader effort to review how intelligence figures are honored by the Defense Department, though officials have not specified what prompted the review.
What the Numbers Show
The Defense Intelligence Agency employs approximately 16,500 military and civilian personnel across multiple U.S. locations and overseas installations, according to agency workforce data.
Clapper served as DNI under two presidents—Obama (2010-2017) and Trump (January 2017), making him one of the longest-serving directors in the position's history since its creation following the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
Thomas Knowlton was killed at the Battle of Harlem Heights in 1776, with his intelligence unit later recognized as a precursor to modern Army military intelligence.
The Bottom Line
The Pentagon has not publicly explained why Clapper's name was removed from the DIA facility. Defense officials confirmed the renaming but declined to elaborate on the decision-making process.
The change comes amid ongoing scrutiny of how federal agencies honor current and former intelligence leaders. The new namesake, Thomas Knowlton, predates the U.S. Intelligence Community by more than two centuries.
Neither Clapper nor his representatives have issued public statements about the renaming as of Tuesday evening.