CNN: US intelligence faces major cuts under Trump DNI pick Bill Pulte

Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, has begun large-scale cuts at his own office, CNN reports, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The source referred to the ongoing events as ‘the deep state firings,’ without disclosing the number of positions affected.

Earlier reporting by CNN suggested that Pulte was considering cuts that could affect hundreds of employees.

Sources also said he arrived on his first official day of work ahead of schedule after requesting a complete staff roster, a move that reportedly surprised outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard.

Bodies such as the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center are expected to be among the most significantly affected by the restructuring.

All ODNI departments were reportedly instructed to submit ranked lists of personnel by Monday, a request interpreted by some officials as preparation for broad layoffs.

The planned cuts have prompted concern from senior Democratic lawmakers on the Senate and House intelligence committees. Senators Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes sent a letter warning that large-scale reductions could undermine national security.

In their message, they wrote: “We are concerned by reports that you intend to fire or place on leave hundreds of Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) officers as soon as this week.”

They added: “While there is room to consider responsible reductions to ODNI’s workforce, any large cuts would follow on a substantial downsizing that has already occurred in 2025 and risk jeopardizing the mission of an organization explicitly created after 9/11 to prevent any future such terrorist attack,” and further stated: “Given your lack of experience within the Intelligence Community, it is difficult to imagine that in such a short amount of time you have already developed fully informed views as to how to shrink ODNI without incurring risks to national security. Making significant structural changes to ODNI, to include a reduction in force, is not an appropriate course of action for anyone in an acting capacity, let alone without consultation with Congress, and you should refrain from doing so.”

A White House official, when asked about the restructuring, referred to a recent post by Trump on Truth Social indicating plans for “downsizing” within the agency.

“I have named William Pulte to be Acting Director of National Intelligence, who will take over on June 19th, and have asked him to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies,” Trump wrote.

Pulte was present at the White House on Monday during the signing of executive orders and had reportedly met with legal advisers and staff after arriving early to his role last week.

The Director of National Intelligence oversees 18 intelligence agencies across the United States. His appointment reportedly caused concern among some political allies of Trump and sparked debate in Congress, where efforts to confirm a permanent nominee were disrupted.

Although Trump has described the appointment as temporary, the duration of Pulte’s role remains unclear. Previous DNI Tulsi Gabbard had reportedly used the office in part to investigate alleged voter fraud related to the 2020 election, a move that raised political controversy.

Separately, reports also noted changes in office presentation, including the removal of photographs previously displayed in ODNI corridors in northern Virginia.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov