Trump wants Bill Pulte to fire intelligence workers

President Donald Trump reportedly said Friday that he wants new Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to “begin the process” of firing multiple employees in the DNI office.

Wall StreetJournal Trump reportedly said in an interview that these firings would be part of a shakeup in the US intelligence community. DNI office He oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.

Trump’s comments are certain to further anger members of Congress, including Republican senators, who criticized the president’s appointment of Pulte on an acting basis to replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard earlier this week.

Trump said Thursday that Pulte “will not be permanent” in the role.

As Trump flew to Wisconsin on Air Force One on Friday, he was asked questions by reporters being considered for the permanent DNI slot.

“I have five interviews and we will have a very good group of people monitoring the events,” he said.

Pulte, who has no intelligence agency experience, will continue as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency until Trump nominates another person as DNI.

Trump told Pulte that he believed the DNI’s office was “unnecessary and/or too large,” the Journal reported Friday, quoting the president’s characterization of that discussion.

According to the newspaper, Trump pointed to what was left of the Biden and Obama administrations and said, “‘I would like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people who shouldn’t be there.'”

When Trump re-entered the White House for a second term in January 2025, the DNI’s office had about 1,800 employees. Federal News Network.

In a statement from the office, it was stated that Gabbard laid off approximately 30% of the office staff after she was confirmed by the Senate as DNI. information note A report published in August 2025 detailing plans to make further headcount reductions.

Trump told the Journal that he wanted Pulte to “begin the process” of reducing DNI office staff and that his eventual nominee for DNI should continue that effort.

While Pulte’s apparent lack of practical experience with the DNI has been a major concern for critics of his appointment, another factor has been his aggressiveness in targeting people who anger Trump.

Last year, Pulte filed a criminal complaint against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, alleging mortgage fraud.

A criminal indictment filed in Virginia federal court against James in connection with alleged mortgage fraud was dismissed last year by a judge who ruled that Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. attorney handpicked by Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was invalidly appointed.

James has denied wrongdoing and said he was targeted because he successfully sued Trump in New York state court, alleging business fraud.

Trump tried to fire Cook last summer, citing Pulte’s allegations, but Cook refused. Cook, who angered Trump by refusing to vote for the rate cuts he demanded, remained at the Fed until the Supreme Court decides whether the president can remove him for the reason he claims.