Acting DNI Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials: MS Now
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), during a press conference at the Federal Housing Finance Association (FHFA) headquarters in Washington, DC, United States, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has initiated a new wave of layoffs within the US intelligence community. MS Now reported on Friday.
Pulte, whom President Donald Trump appointed as acting espionage chief in June, sent termination notices to dozens of intelligence officials on Thursday, MS Now reported, citing an intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation.
The intelligence official told MS Now that the Trump administration had fired officials who they “believed were deep state” and allegedly failed to provide the full picture of available intelligence.
The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
CNN first reported Last month, it was announced that Pulte had eliminated several political appointees who served under former director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation in May.
Trump reportedly said in early June that he wanted Pulte to “begin the process” of laying off large numbers of DNI employees. The DNI office oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.
The president’s decision to choose Pulte drew harsh bipartisan criticism from members of Congress.
Pulte, who also served as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, used his perch to investigate Trump’s opponents for alleged mortgage fraud.
Amid congressional opposition to Pulte, Trump announced in June that Jay Clayton, the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was his permanent choice for DNI.
The Senate attempted to expedite Clayton’s proposal by scheduling a confirmation hearing for June 17. But Trump thwarted that effort by instructing Clayton not to attend a meeting. Real Social post hours before the hearing and stated that Pulte would remain as acting DNI in the meantime.
Pulte took over the interim assignment on June 19, providing access to the most sensitive US intelligence data.
