Trump expels dozens of Russian intelligence officials

In response to a March 4 chemical attack in the United Kingdom, President Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian officials believed to be conducting "malicious activities" in the United States and is shuttering the Russian consulate in Seattle, according to several White House officials.

Among those being expelled are 12 officials from Russia's team at the United Nations in New York.

All the officials have seven days to leave the United States and are "considered to be aggressive-collection personnel," said one White House official on a call with reporters.

The expulsions are retaliatory measures ordered in response to a nerve agent attack in the United Kingdom against Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Sergei is a former Russian intelligence agent. World leaders have blamed the attack, which also injured a British police officer, on the Russian government.

The Seattle consulate was closed "due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing," according to a White House statement. The White House officials said closing Russia's consulate in Seattle would "degrade" its intelligence gathering capability on the West Coast.

"We are prepared to take additional steps, if necessary," one official said.

"The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world," the White House statement reads. "Today's actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America's national security. With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government's behavior."

rump has not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the expulsions or anything else since their call last Tuesday when Trump congratulated Putin on his re-election, the officials said.

The officials assured reporters the president had signed off on the decision.

"This is absolutely his decision," one official said.

The expulsion comes as Trump's presidential campaign is being investigated for possible collusion with the Russian government.