Bill Pulte, interim US intelligence chief, plans mass layoffs at ODNI

Bill Pulte was named interim director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) by President Donald Trump. Within a day of assuming the role, he requested a full employee list and indicated he intends to cut hundreds of positions across the agency, which oversees the CIA, NSA and other key intelligence bodies.

Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned after reducing staff by roughly 40% during her tenure. Congressional oversight member Rep. Jim Himes questioned Pulte’s qualifications, stating that if the reports are accurate, the interim director “should not even spend a minute in the position.” The proposed layoffs have raised concerns about morale, loss of institutional knowledge, and the overall capacity of the U.S. intelligence community to address ongoing global tensions and cyber threats.

The move aligns with President Trump’s broader push to streamline the intelligence apparatus, but critics warn it could impair national security operations at a time of heightened international conflict.