Trump appoints Bill Pulte acting DNI, orders agency staff cuts

President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting Director of National Intelligence. Trump told the Wall Street Journal, "I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there," and instructed Pulte to begin removing staff from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, especially officials who served under the Biden and Obama administrations. Trump said the acting role gives Pulte "more power" for a limited period and that a future permanent director should continue the reductions. Pulte, who has no national‑security experience, drew bipartisan criticism; several Republican senators joined Democrats in opposing his appointment. The controversy coincided with a Senate vote that blocked a procedural motion to extend a key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, delaying the program’s reauthorization. Trump later clarified that Pulte would not be his permanent nominee and that the administration is interviewing other candidates. The move follows the resignation of former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who had already overseen a 40% workforce cut and a $700 million budget reduction at ODNI.