Acting Director of National Intelligence William Pulte announced Tuesday a fifth round of staff reductions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), describing it as "a 5th and Near Final Round of TERMINATIONS, an approximately 30% Staff Reduction from Weeks Ago." Pulte stated the Intelligence Community's purpose is to "protect the American people, NOT the political whims of the bloated and corrupt elite class."
This latest announcement comes as the Senate is expected to vote Tuesday night on confirming Jay Clayton, nominated by President Donald Trump, to serve as the Director of National Intelligence.
Pulte, who also serves as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, assumed the role of acting DNI last month. Prior to his tenure, President Trump had expressed his view that the ODNI was "unnecessary and/or too big" and instructed Pulte to begin a downsizing process. Trump stated in a June Truth Social post that he had asked Pulte to "execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies."
This is the latest in a series of reductions. Pulte announced the completion of a fourth round of layoffs on Sunday. He had previously stated in a July 10 post that the ODNI "started a third round of reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel."
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., previously stated that he had spoken with the acting DNI, who agreed that ODNI should be returned to its "original size, scope, and mission." According to Cotton, Pulte indicated that "a small handful of front office personnel are leaving federal employment" and that "a few dozen, around 45 or 50, career officers are, in fact, returning to their home agencies."