Acting Director of National Intelligence William Pulte announced Sunday that his office has completed a fourth round of layoffs. Pulte stated on X that his team has been "smartly, and carefully, reducing the size of [the Office of the Director of National Intelligence], re-focusing ODNI on national security, the law, and the statute."
In a post on July 10, Pulte had indicated that the U.S. National Intelligence was operating more efficiently and effectively. "Today, we started a third round of reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel," he wrote, adding that the DNI's future would be focused on following the law and statute.
Pulte was chosen by President Donald Trump to serve as acting DNI. Pulte previously directed the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Tulsi Gabbard departed the role of DNI last month, having announced in May her intention to exit due to her husband's bone cancer diagnosis.
Prior to Pulte assuming the acting DNI role, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had expressed his view that ODNI was "unnecessary and/or too big" and that there were "a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there." The president reportedly told Pulte he wanted him to "start the process" of reducing staff, with the eventual DNI nominee expected to continue the effort. Trump later announced U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton as his nominee for the DNI position.
Pulte expressed gratitude to President Trump for the opportunity to serve as acting DNI, noting in his Sunday post that "so much has already been accomplished — Operationally, AND, Transparency."