Acting DNI Bill Pulte Begins Mass ODNI Staff Cuts

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte began implementing large-scale workforce reductions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on June 23, 2026. Acting on a mandate from President Donald Trump to execute an immediate downsizing and revert staff to their home agencies, Pulte removed 51 employees, terminating six political appointees and returning 45 career officials to their original agencies.

The cuts follow a previous 40% workforce reduction conducted under former director Tulsi Gabbard in 2025. While some reports indicated that 400 employees at the National Counterterrorism Center were identified for termination, Pulte has denied that the center was impacted by the initial wave of cuts. The downsizing effort coincides with a paused confirmation process for permanent nominee Jay Clayton.

Congressional Democrats, led by Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes, warned in a letter that such sweeping structural changes by an acting official lacking national security experience could jeopardize the agency's post-9/11 mission. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer further conditioned any agreement to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Pulte's removal. Conversely, Republican Senator Tom Cotton supported the moves, arguing the ODNI had grown far beyond its original mandate.