Read on PBS NewsTrump Directs Acting DNI Bill Pulte to Further Reduce Intelligence Office Staff
President Donald Trump announced on June 5, 2026, that he has instructed Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to continue cutting staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which has already been significantly reduced under Tulsi Gabbard. Trump stated the office has been 'way too high for way too long' and directed Pulte to begin the process of firing employees, signaling a potential further downsizing of the agency that oversees 18 intelligence bodies. The move comes amid bipartisan Senate resistance and controversy over Pulte's lack of national security expertise.
On June 5, 2026, President Donald Trump stated aboard Air Force One that he wants Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to further slash staffing at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), an agency that has already been significantly scaled back during Trump's second term. Trump noted that the office's size has been "way too high for way too long" and expressed that he would not mind if Pulte made additional cuts.
In an earlier interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump elaborated that he has asked Pulte to start the process of firing employees. The president suggested that many individuals currently working at the ODNI should not be there, particularly those who served under the Biden and Obama administrations. "I'd like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there," Trump told the Journal, underscoring his intent to reshape the intelligence community's workforce.
Background on Pulte's Appointment and Resistance
Bill Pulte, who previously served as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was tapped by Trump earlier this week in a surprising move that has drawn bipartisan criticism due to Pulte's lack of national security experience. The temporary appointment has also complicated the renewal of a critical national security surveillance program on Capitol Hill, as Democrats have expressed distrust in Pulte's ability to administer the program.
Trump indicated that Pulte is not his permanent pick for the role and that he is considering five candidates for the permanent position, all of whom he described as "very respected people." The president said Pulte will remain in the position depending on how long it takes to confirm a successor.
Previous Reductions Under Tulsi Gabbard
Under Pulte's predecessor, Tulsi Gabbard, the ODNI had already taken significant steps to reduce its size. In August, the Trump administration announced that the office's budget would be cut by more than $700 million per year, along with a roughly 40% reduction in its workforce. Gabbard described the office as "bloated and inefficient" before resigning last month following her husband's cancer diagnosis.
Trump's latest directive to Pulte signals a continuation of this downsizing strategy, with the president stating that Pulte can "do a lot of the hard work" before a permanent director takes over. The move reinforces the administration's ongoing efforts to reshape federal agencies and reduce what it views as excessive government staffing.
