Large-scale personnel cuts are now underway at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) under acting Director Bill Pulte, according to multiple reports Tuesday, marking the first major shakeup of the U.S. intelligence community since former DNI Tulsi Gabbard departed the post.
The workforce reductions come as President Donald Trump’s nominee to permanently lead the agency, former U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, remains sidelined amid a growing standoff between the White House and Congress over surveillance authorities and election-related legislation.
Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that hundreds of intelligence personnel could face termination or administrative leave as the administration moves forward with plans to reduce the size of the agency.
“The deep state firings have begun,” one source told the outlet, declining to provide specific figures:
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center were expected to be hit hard by the cuts. However, on Tuesday, the first source said the NCTC had not been impacted by the firings.
All offices were asked to provide a list ranking their personnel by Monday, according to two sources familiar with the matter, who associated the request with Pulte’s mandate to carry out mass firings.
The firings came as top Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees sent a letter on Monday to Pulte warning him of the risks of making large cuts to the workforce.
Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes wrote, “We are concerned by reports that you intend to fire or place on leave hundreds of Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) officers as soon as this week.”
“While there is room to consider responsible reductions to ODNI’s workforce, any large cuts would follow on a substantial downsizing that has already occurred in 2025 and risk jeopardizing the mission of an organization explicitly created after 9/11 to prevent any future such terrorist attack,” they wrote.
Trump Puts Clayton Nomination on Hold
The personnel shakeup coincides with uncertainty surrounding Clayton’s nomination.
Trump recently ordered Clayton to skip a scheduled Senate confirmation hearing, a move that surprised lawmakers on Capitol Hill and effectively froze the nomination process.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he would not move forward with Clayton’s confirmation until Congress passes legislation combining a voter identification measure with an extension of Section 702 surveillance authorities, a key intelligence-gathering tool used to monitor foreign nationals abroad.
The decision has generated frustration among some Republicans.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) described the delay as “regrettable,” underscoring growing concerns among lawmakers about leadership uncertainty at one of the nation’s most important intelligence agencies.
Pulte Moves Quickly After Taking Control
Pulte officially assumed leadership of ODNI on June 19 after Gabbard’s departure.
Before formally taking over, he requested detailed personnel information from across the agency, including rankings of employees within various offices.
The 38-year-old businessman and longtime Trump ally reportedly surprised some agency officials with the scope of his requests, including Gabbard herself.
According to reports, Pulte is targeting as many as 400 positions for elimination in the coming weeks.
The cuts are expected to affect several intelligence components, including personnel assigned to the National Counterterrorism Center.
Political Firestorm Builds
Pulte’s appointment has drawn scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans.
The nomination has drawn scrutiny from critics who note he has no prior intelligence experience. They have also highlighted his tenure as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, a role he continues to hold while simultaneously serving as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
During his tenure, Pulte publicly called for investigations into alleged mortgage fraud involving several high-profile Trump critics, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
Those actions fueled concerns among lawmakers that he could bring partisan politics into the intelligence community.
Members of both parties have reportedly warned the acting DNI against carrying out sweeping personnel purges without consulting Congress and against releasing classified intelligence without proper authorization.
FISA Debate Adds New Complications
The leadership turmoil has also complicated ongoing negotiations over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The surveillance authority has become a flashpoint in Washington, with lawmakers divided over how much oversight should accompany its reauthorization.
Democrats have expressed concerns about extending the program while Pulte remains in charge of ODNI, creating another obstacle in already difficult negotiations.
The dispute now places the future of a critical intelligence-gathering tool alongside broader debates over election integrity legislation and the direction of the intelligence community under Trump’s second administration.
Key Takeaways
- Large-scale firings have begun at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
- Acting DNI Bill Pulte is reportedly targeting up to 400 positions for elimination.
- Trump has paused Jay Clayton’s confirmation process pending congressional action on voter ID legislation and Section 702 surveillance authorities.
- Lawmakers in both parties have raised concerns about potential politicization of the intelligence community.
- The workforce cuts are adding new tension to ongoing debates over federal surveillance powers and intelligence oversight.
With Congress and the White House at odds over Pulte’s status, the debate surrounding the restructuring of the ODNI is increasingly drawing attention across Washington’s national security and intelligence communities.
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