President Trump has instructed Bill Pulte, the newly appointed acting director of national intelligence, to begin the process of firing a large number of employees within the DNI's office. This move is part of a broader shakeup of the U.S. intelligence community, which oversees 18 agencies including the CIA and NSA.
Trump's comments, made during an interview, indicate his belief that the DNI's office is overly large and filled with personnel from previous administrations that he deems unnecessary. The office had approximately 1,800 employees when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, and his previous DNI appointee, Tulsi Gabbard, had already reduced the staff by nearly 30%.
Pulte, who lacks experience in intelligence, will also continue his role as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency until a permanent DNI is nominated.
Trump's approach has raised concerns among Republican senators and other lawmakers, particularly given Pulte's history of targeting individuals who have opposed Trump, including criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
This situation may create further political tension and uncertainty regarding the future direction of U.S. intelligence operations