“The intelligence community has the opportunity to be just as strong if not stronger than it ever was, but it needs leadership,” Christie told a New Hampshire radio station on Monday, according to Buzzfeed

ADVERTISEMENT

“And the biggest problem with the intelligence community now is it has been demoralized by a president and certain members of Congress like Senator Paul and Senator Cruz who have worked against the intelligence community to make us less safe,” he added.

Christie, Cruz and Paul are all Republican candidates for president.

The New Jersey governor said intelligence efforts in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks kept the nation safe.

“And lets remember something, in the seven years after 9/11, during the Bush administration, we had no attacks on American soil after 9/11,” Christie said.

“And a large contributor to that success, was the intelligence community because it was empowered and supported by a strong president of the United States, who knew exactly what do to prevent terrorist attacks on the homeland.”

Cruz has previously faced attacks from other fellow GOP presidential candidates for his support for the USA Freedom Act earlier this year.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said last month that Cruz worked to " weaken " surveillance programs that could thwart terrorists.

"The weakening of our intelligence gathering capabilities leaves America vulnerable, and that is exactly what's happened," said Rubio, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.