Dozens of staff members have reportedly been removed from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence less than a week after President Donald Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director.
Multiple reports said the firings affected both career and political staff. Some of the people removed were reportedly political appointees with ties to former Director Tulsi Gabbard, who left the post in late May. One report said more than 50 staff members were affected, including several who were fired directly and dozens who were sent back to their home agencies.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, known as ODNI, was created after the September 11 attacks to coordinate intelligence across the U.S. government. The office plays a central role in connecting information from agencies such as the CIA, NSA, FBI and other parts of the intelligence community.
The latest cuts come during a period of major turbulence at the agency. Gabbard had previously announced a large workforce reduction, saying the office had become bloated and inefficient. She also accused parts of the intelligence community of abuse, leaks and politicized conduct. Critics argued that deep cuts could weaken the office’s ability to prevent threats and coordinate intelligence.
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Pulte, who also leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, reportedly began considering large-scale dismissals on the same day he assumed the acting intelligence post. Some reports suggested the National Counterterrorism Center could face especially significant reductions.
The reported firings quickly drew concern on Capitol Hill. Rep. James Himes and Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees, sent Pulte a letter warning against major changes without consulting Congress. They argued that additional cuts, following earlier downsizing, could risk damaging the mission of an office created specifically to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Some Republicans also expressed skepticism. Sen. Thom Tillis said Pulte should conduct a careful review before eliminating positions and suggested only jobs that could be automated or were unnecessary should be cut. Tillis sharply criticized Pulte’s suitability for the role, saying he was not the right person to lead the intelligence office.
The ODNI has not publicly responded to requests for comment on the reported firings.
The controversy adds to broader questions about how the Trump administration is reshaping federal agencies during its second term. Supporters of the administration’s personnel changes argue that agencies need to be streamlined, made more accountable and cleared of officials they view as resistant to the president’s agenda. Critics say rapid removals can weaken institutional knowledge, politicize national security work and reduce oversight.
The intelligence community is especially sensitive because its work involves classified information, counterterrorism, foreign threats and national security coordination. Large staffing changes can affect not only internal operations but also the relationship between intelligence agencies and Congress.
The legal and political stakes may grow if lawmakers conclude that the administration is making major structural changes without required notification or consultation. Congressional intelligence committees are expected to continue pressing for answers about who was removed, why they were dismissed and whether national security functions were affected.
For now, the firings mark one of the first major moves by Pulte in the acting role and suggest the administration may be preparing a broader overhaul of the intelligence office.
Why It Matters
The reported firings matter because ODNI helps coordinate the U.S. intelligence community and was created to prevent the kind of information gaps exposed after 9/11. Major staff cuts could reshape how intelligence is gathered, analyzed and shared across the government. The move also raises questions about whether national security agencies are being streamlined or politicized.
What Comes Next
Lawmakers are likely to demand more details from Pulte and the Trump administration. Key questions include how many staffers were removed, whether the National Counterterrorism Center was affected, and whether the changes will disrupt intelligence coordination or counterterrorism work.
A televised report said staff firings had begun under Bill Pulte after he was named acting director of national intelligence.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump’s new Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has reportedly begun FIRINGS and the Democrats are FURIOUS
I voted for that!
The Deep State is about to have a rough time with Pulte 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VeDSFY1ykv
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 23, 2026
