Acting DNI William Pulte Cuts ODNI Staff by 30 Percent

Acting Director of National Intelligence William Pulte executed five rounds of personnel reductions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) between July 10 and July 28, 2026. The final wave of terminations on Tuesday resulted in an approximate 30 percent reduction in staff compared to levels several weeks prior. Pulte stated the effort aimed to refocus the agency on national security and the law, asserting that the intelligence community must protect citizens rather than the political whims of the elite class.

The downsizing followed direct orders from President Donald Trump, who described the agency as unnecessary or too large and urged the removal of personnel, particularly those remaining from the Obama and Biden administrations. Pulte assumed the acting role in June 2026 following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard. These cuts involved both firing personnel and returning detailed intelligence officers to their home agencies.

As the downsizing neared completion, the U.S. Senate scheduled a vote for Tuesday to confirm Jay Clayton, the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the permanent Director of National Intelligence to succeed Pulte.