Office of the Director of National Intelligence begins staff cuts under acting chief Bill Pulte

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DNI staff cuts under Bill Pulte

Highlights

Acting chief Bill Pulte issues termination notices to dozens of intelligence officials on Thursday, targeting those perceived as unsupportive by the Trump administration.
After Tulsi Gabbard's resignation in May, Pulte becomes acting DNI on June 19 and eliminates several political appointees, initiating a broader agency restructuring.
Pulte's leadership and staff cuts face bipartisan criticism in Congress, while Trump delays Jay Clayton's confirmation and keeps Pulte as acting director amid ongoing controversy.

Reported firings follow June leadership change

As reported by CNBC, citing MS Now, Pulte sends termination notices on Thursday to dozens of intelligence officials, citing an intelligence official who speaks on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. The official says the Trump administration is removing people it views as part of the “deep state” and officials it believes have not provided complete pictures of available intelligence.

Trump taps Pulte to lead the spy agency in June after Tulsi Gabbard steps down from the role. Trump says last month that he wants Pulte to “start the process” of firing large numbers of intelligence officials. The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence do not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

CNN first reports last month that Pulte eliminates several political appointees who serve under Gabbard, the former director of national intelligence who announces her resignation in May. Pulte assumes the interim role on June 19, gaining access to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence data.

Political fallout and agency implications

Pulte's appointment draws sharp bipartisan criticism from members of Congress as the administration presses ahead with changes at the office that oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency. The reported firings point to a broader restructuring effort inside one of Washington's most sensitive national security institutions.

Amid congressional opposition to Pulte, Trump announces that Jay Clayton is his permanent pick for DNI but later instructs Clayton not to attend a scheduled confirmation hearing, saying Pulte will remain acting DNI in the interim. The article also says Pulte has used his role to investigate opponents of Trump's administration for alleged mortgage fraud.

In our earlier report on the Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s bid to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, we explained how the decision blocked the dismissal and reaffirmed the Federal Reserve’s operational independence. We also noted that the court’s narrow reasoning leaves room for future challenges, keeping broader questions about presidential authority and institutional autonomy in focus.

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