Bill Pulte Announces Fourth Round of ODNI Firings
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte said Sunday evening that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has completed another round of layoffs.
This marks the fourth round of cuts under Pulte since he stepped into the acting DNI role. The move is part of a broader effort, according to Pulte, to shrink ODNI and bring the agency back to its core mission.
“Since becoming Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been smartly, and carefully, reducing the size of ODNI, re-focusing ODNI on national security, the law, and the statute,” Pulte said.
He added, “As of this evening, we just finished a 4th round of thoughtful, measured layoffs. Thank you!”
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The latest announcement comes after earlier cuts that reportedly affected dozens of intelligence officials. Last month, a source told CNN, “The Deep State firings have begun,” as the reshuffling inside the intelligence community started drawing national attention.
CBS News previously reported that Pulte fired six political intelligence staffers and sent 45 others back to their home agencies. CNN also reported that six political appointees selected by Tulsi Gabbard were fired.
Pulte has also made a point of praising intelligence personnel he says are focused on the mission. After visiting the National Counterterrorism Center last month, he said, “Today, I spent time with the National Counterterrorism Center team, who is doing an incredible job protecting our Country under President Trump’s leadership. The room was filled with true professionals and American patriots. It is a privilege to work beside them,”
The firings come during a transition period at the top of the intelligence community. President Trump previously nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
Clayton’s confirmation has been delayed while senators move through the process of confirming his replacement for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. That delay has left Pulte in the acting role longer, giving him time to continue making personnel changes at ODNI.
The Senate is expected to confirm Clayton early this week. If that happens, the intelligence community could soon see another leadership shift after weeks of steady cuts and internal reorganization.
For now, Pulte is making clear that the downsizing is not slowing down. His public message is simple: ODNI is being reduced, refocused, and pushed back toward national security, the law, and the statute that defines its work.