Acting DNI Bill Pulte begins large-scale staff reductions at ODNI
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Bill Pulte, the acting director of national intelligence, has started cutting hundreds of positions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, prompting criticism from congressional intelligence committees.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) began a wave of personnel cuts on Monday, according to a source familiar with the process. The reductions are being carried out by Bill Pulte, the acting director of national intelligence appointed by President Donald Trump, who has described the move as "downsizing" and plans to return staff to their home agencies.
The source said the firings have started but did not specify the number of positions eliminated. Earlier reports indicated that the National Counterterrorism Center and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center would be among the units most affected.
Senators and representatives on the Senate and House intelligence committees sent a letter to Pulte expressing concern over the planned dismissals. "We are concerned by reports that you intend to fire or place on leave hundreds of ODNI officers as soon as this week," the letter read. The lawmakers warned that large cuts could jeopardize the agency’s mission, which was created after the September 11 attacks, and urged Pulte to refrain from such actions without congressional consultation.
A White House official referenced President Trump’s recent post on Truth Social, in which he instructed Pulte to execute the immediate downsizing of the office. "I have named William Pulte to be Acting Director of National Intelligence, who will take over on June 19th, and have asked him to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office," Trump wrote.
Pulte, who oversees 18 intelligence agencies, arrived at the Oval Office on the day President Trump signed executive orders related to the restructuring. His appointment has drawn criticism from some of the president’s advisers and from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have sought a permanent nominee for the position.
CNN contacted ODNI for comment but did not receive a response.