Over 50 ODNI Staff Removed Since Pulte Became Acting Director

Just over 50 career and political intelligence staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have been removed from their roles since Bill Pulte became the agency's acting director on Friday. Six were terminated and 45 were sent back to their home agencies, according to three sources familiar with the personnel moves.

CBS News reported that Pulte has been asking deputies and other directors for suggestions about cuts.

Some ODNI deputies pushed for more cuts, but Pulte said that the 51 was enough for now, one of the sources said. No staffers have been removed from the counterterrorism group. No further firings are planned for now, two of the sources said.

Those who were fired and sent to their home agencies didn't have tasks, or their assigned tasks were outdated, a source said. The cuts follow hundreds of staff reductions last year by former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last week. Last year's planned downsizing sought to bring the office's headcount from 2,000 to around 1,300.

President Trump directed Pulte to "execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office" in a Truth Social post earlier this month. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Republican Sen. " Democratic Rep. " After Gabbard announced in May that she would resign, President Trump said he would install Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. He later nominated Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, to serve as Senate-confirmed director, but abruptly called for Clayton's confirmation hearing to be canceled last week.