Former senior U.S. intelligence officials have raised alarms over Donald Trump's second term, accusing the president of following an autocrat's playbook by weakening institutional checks and balances.

Paul Kolbe, a former CIA station chief, noted that Trump's tactics mirror those used by authoritarian leaders worldwide. Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer, emphasized that 'the guardrails were all taken down' and warned that the situation could worsen.

These former officials are part of The Steady State, a network of over 400 ex-intelligence and national security personnel formed in 2016. The group argues that Trump's consolidation of power threatens U.S. democracy and its business environment.

Their public criticism marks a significant escalation in concern from the intelligence community, reflecting deepening unease about the erosion of democratic norms and executive oversight in the United States.