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A new report released by the Senate Intelligence Committee has criticized the CIA for its inadequate response to “Havana Syndrome” cases, citing delays in medical care, inconsistent policies, and insufficient support that left affected employees struggling with treatment and compensation.
Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last eight years, “Havana Syndrome” has emerged as a medical mystery affecting US government personnel worldwide. First reported in late 2016 by diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba, the syndrome involves symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, nausea, cognitive difficulties, and balance issues, often resembling mild traumatic brain injuries. Since its emergence, approximately 1,500 cases have been reported across 96 countries, impacting CIA officers, diplomats, military personnel, and their families. Early theories suggested the symptoms might be caused by directed energy weapons or surveillance technologies used by foreign adversaries. Still, US intelligence assessments have ruled out a foreign attack as a likely cause.

What’s going on now: In a report released by the Senate Intelligence Committee, the CIA was criticized for its handling of Havana Syndrome, finding that many employees “faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care.” The report highlighted delays, denials, and preconditions for medical treatment, creating significant barriers for those affected. For example, some employees experienced “long wait times to access facilitated treatment options” or were “denied facilitated care by a CIA care adjudication board.” The committee found that as of the end of 2023, only 21% of CIA employees’ workers’ compensation claims had been approved, compared to 67% approval for employees of other US government agencies.
The report also uncovered distrust within the agency, as employees feared their medical records would be “weaponized” against them or used to attribute their symptoms to pre-existing conditions. Unresolved health issues were also a major concern, as many cases involved clusters of unexplained symptoms that defied easy medical explanations. While the intelligence community concluded foreign adversaries or directed energy weapons did not cause AHIs, the report acknowledged “there remain many unanswered questions about these incidents.”
CIA responds: The CIA responded to the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report by defending its efforts to support employees affected by Havana Syndrome while acknowledging the challenges posed by an evolving understanding of the phenomenon. A CIA spokesperson stated, “During the critical periods covered by this report, CIA had to design a response to a vexing problem as both our understanding of the problem and the problem itself evolved.” While the CIA expressed willingness to review whether it could have improved its response in hindsight, it stated that its “commitment to ensuring that our officers and their families had access to the care they needed has never wavered.”