Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard blindsided the CIA last week when she revoked the security clearance of an undercover senior officer who was a longtime Russia hand and intelligence expert, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Gabbard did not know the officer was working undercover, nor did she consult with the CIA before announcing the revocation of 37 current and former officials, according to the Journal, which did not name the official in its report. Gabbard's office delivered the list of names to the CIA the night before publicly releasing them, according to the report.

Gabbard said she pulled the clearances following direction from President Donald Trump. She stated that those affected had "abused the public trust by politicizing and manipulating intelligence, leaking classified intelligence without authorization, and/or committing intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards."

"Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right," Gabbard wrote on Aug. 19.

"Director of National Intelligence Gabbard directed the revocations to ensure individuals who have violated the trust placed in them by weaponizing, politicizing, manipulating, or leaking classified intelligence are no longer allowed to do so," a spokeswoman in Gabbard's office said.

The senior officer in question held intelligence posts for more than 20 years and was on the National Intelligence Council from 2014 to 2017 as an expert on Russia and Eurasia, according to the Journal. 

Gabbard's move to revoke the 37 clearances came against the backdrop of long-running controversy over the role of intelligence officials in the 2016 election and its aftermath. Several former intelligence leaders faced criticism for their handling of unverified allegations that Trump's presidential campaign colluded with Russia.

The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 makes it a felony to intentionally reveal the identity of a covert intelligence officer, agent, or source. It was passed after several CIA officers had their names exposed publicly in the late 1970s, putting them and their families at serious risk. The law applies to government officials, journalists, or anyone else who knowingly discloses a covert agent's identity.

In addition to Gabbard not knowing the officer was undercover, according to the report, it remains unclear whether including the officer’s name constitutes a disclosure under the law, or whether the statute applies to disclosures made by government officials.