Trump tells acting DNI Bill Pulte to start firing intelligence officials
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President Donald Trump wants new Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte to “begin the process” of firing intelligence community officials, he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday.
Trump on Tuesday tapped Pulte to replace current DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in May after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Pulte, who will take over on an interim basis when Gabbard’s resignation becomes official on June 30, has apparently been tasked with reducing the number of employees at the 18 intelligence agencies headed by the DNI.
“I would like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people who shouldn’t be there.” Trump told The Wall Street Journal cites the intelligence community.
TRUMP NAMES ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BILL PULTE
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte walks in front of the White House on September 2, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The selection of Pulte, who currently serves as Trump’s Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was followed by former Senate Majority Leader R.S.D., who publicly criticized the move. It was reported that he annoyed a group of legislators, including.
“We don’t need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there,” Thune said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) speaks to reporters after the Senate passed the Department of Homeland Security funding bill at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2026. The bill funds all of DHS except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection and was sent back to the House. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
But Pulte’s pariah status clearly led Trump to pick him in the first place, he explained to the Wall Street Journal.
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“You’re less chained,” he told the outlet. “It kind of gives you more power for a limited time, you know.”
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump allayed Pulte’s concerns that it would be difficult for him to be confirmed by the Senate if he is elected to the post permanently. He assured the public that the search for a permanent replacement was ongoing and that Pulte’s temporary status would benefit him.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on June 3, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
“Frankly, it might be good for him to stir this up before people show up,” Trump said. “Because if he reduces the size with me and probably with the person who comes in, he can do most of the hard work and we don’t have to saddle someone who comes in,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal.
TULSI GABBARD CHANGED HER CONVERSAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL AFTER GOP LOBBYING
Pulte, which also chairs the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has already influenced legislative outcomes.
After six Senate Republicans joined with Democrats to block a bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Senate Select Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., warned that Democrats would not vote for reauthorization as long as Pulte was in charge of intelligence.
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“I don’t see how you’re going to get the necessary votes from the Democrats … that’s going to get them to 60,” Warner said.
Fox News Digital contacted Leader Thune’s and Senator Warner’s offices and reached out to Bill Pulte for further clarity.
