Trump looking at New York billionaire to lead review of US spy agencies

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is considering tapping New York financier Stephen Feinberg to lead a broad review of U.S. intelligence agencies at a time when the new president has cast aspersions on their work and integrity.

A role for Feinberg, a co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, has not been finalized, but he is someone whom Trump greatly respects and admires, administration officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a possible move that has not been announced. Trump and Feignberg are longtime friends.

The appointment of Feinberg, a prospect first reported by the New York Times, would send shock waves through the intelligence community, a frequent target of Trump’s ire both as a candidate and now as president.

Trump was slow to accept the conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia had meddled in last year’s election, and he lashed out Wednesday at the intelligence community for “illegally” leaking information that preceded the resignation of Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

Feinberg, 56, has been a major donor to Republican candidates and has served on Trump’s economic advisory council. Earlier this mo nth, his firm disclosed to investors that Feinberg was in discussions about a “senior role” in the Trump administration.

Trump has nominated former Republican senator Daniel Coats of Indiana to be Director of National Intelligence, but he has not been confirmed. By statute, that person has oversight over the U.S. intelligence agencies and is the president’s primary contact.