CIA OPERATES AS 'A STATE WITHIN A STATE,' WITH BUDGET SURPASSING STATE DEPARTMENT AND ITS OWN AIR FORCE, JFK WARNED BEFORE ASSASSINATION

Newly declassified files have revealed a chilling warning given to President John F. Kennedy before his assassination—one that underscored the immense, unchecked power of the CIA. According to historical documents, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., a top advisor to Kennedy, cautioned him about the agency’s growing influence, describing it as "a state within a state" with a budget that far exceeded that of the U.S. State Department and military resources, including its own covert air force.

Schlesinger’s warning came as Kennedy increasingly clashed with the CIA over its secretive operations and aggressive foreign interventions. The files suggest that Kennedy was deeply concerned about the agency’s autonomy, particularly following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, which had led him to consider dismantling the CIA or drastically reducing its power.

The revelation of the CIA’s budgetary dominance and military capabilities adds another layer to long-standing theories that the agency had a vested interest in Kennedy’s removal. Some analysts believe that Kennedy’s push for intelligence reform and his rumored intent to curb CIA activities may have put him at odds with powerful figures within the national security establishment.

The newly surfaced documents also detail the CIA’s extensive covert operations, its direct involvement in foreign conflicts, and its ability to function beyond the oversight of elected officials. Schlesinger’s memo to Kennedy reportedly highlighted concerns that the agency’s reach had grown to a level where it operated with little accountability, influencing global events without direct presidential authorization.

These revelations contribute to the ongoing debate over the role of intelligence agencies in democratic governance and the historical implications of Kennedy’s assassination. While the full truth remains obscured by decades of secrecy, the warning Kennedy received from Schlesinger underscores the immense power wielded by the CIA—power that, as some argue, may have played a role in one of the most controversial political assassinations in history.