A former top medical official at the CIA has filed a lawsuit against the agency, claiming she was unfairly fired. Terry Adirim, who once served in the Pentagon, alleges that she was denied due process when she lost her position.
Adirim began working at the CIA last year after helping lead health policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, just days into her new job, she became the target of political attacks. Right-wing commentator Ivan Raiklin publicly accused her of being responsible for military vaccine mandates.
Shortly after these claims surfaced, Adirim was removed from her post. Her lawsuit claims the CIA acted on outside political pressure. Furthermore, she says her dismissal violated constitutional protections and employment agreements.
Notably, Adirim states that her job at the CIA had not yet been publicly announced. Despite this, her identity was leaked to political activists. That leak, she argues, triggered a wave of backlash from anti-vaccine figures.
According to the lawsuit, the agency praised her work shortly before firing her. She received an email from a top official who expressed confidence in her leadership. Yet, within weeks, she was dismissed without explanation or warning.
The suit claims that Adirim was denied due process, and the CIA failed to follow standard procedures. Her attorney says political pressure, not performance, led to her removal. He also argues that the agency broke its own employment contract.
Additionally, the lawsuit highlights how political actors allegedly coordinated to remove national security officials. It connects her dismissal to similar firings that followed far-right visits to the White House.
Now, Adirim seeks compensation and reinstatement. She also wants a court order blocking the CIA from firing employees without due process.
Her case raises concerns about whether public servants can be targeted for political reasons. More importantly, it asks whether federal agencies are protecting their employees’ rights or denying them due process.
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