Trump directs new intelligence chief to cut staff further

President Donald Trump directed Bill Pulte, his acting director of national intelligence, to cut staff at the office on Friday, building on reductions already made during his second term.

Trump did not specify the size or scope of the additional cuts he sought. Pulte, appointed to the role after Trump took office in January 2025, leads an agency responsible for coordinating intelligence activities across federal departments.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversees 17 agencies and organizations that gather and analyze intelligence for policymakers. The office itself employs staff who synthesize classified information from these agencies for the president and Congress.

Reductions at the office have occurred as part of broader government workforce cuts Trump has pursued since returning to the White House. Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency before taking office, an entity meant to identify spending reductions across federal agencies.

Pulte previously worked in the private sector before joining the administration. His appointment to lead the intelligence office marked a shift in leadership from the previous director, who served under President Joe Biden.

Congress maintains oversight authority over the intelligence community and receives classified briefings from the office on national security matters. Senate committees, in particular, scrutinize major personnel and budget changes at intelligence agencies during confirmation hearings and oversight sessions.