Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced another round of terminations Tuesday, hours before the Senate is set to confirm a new agency head.
“We are, this morning, Executing a 5th and Near Final Round of TERMINATIONS, an approximately 30% Staff Reduction from Weeks Ago. The Intelligence Community must protect the American people, NOT the political whims of the bloated and corrupt elite class,” Pulte said in a post on X.
President Donald Trump said last month that he wanted Pulte to use his limited time in the office to make serious changes. He urged the acting director to “start the process” of making cuts and shrinking the agency, pointing to holdovers from previous administrations.
The temporary replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who ended her tenure as director of national intelligence on June 30, Pulte received backlash throughout his tenure, given he has no experience in national security. Trump walked back a push to make Pulte’s installment permanent after senators from both parties said they would refuse to confirm him.
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Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Pulte’s temporary status would allow him to be “less shackled” in his role.
“It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time,” the president said.
Pulte has concurrently served as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, a role he will continue after eventually leaving his intelligence post. Now, the Senate is poised to confirm Jay Clayton as the new director of national intelligence on Tuesday after Trump forced the chamber to postpone his initial confirmation hearing in mid-June.
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