Trump Wants Acting Intelligence Chief Bill Pulte To Further Shrink Spy Agency Workforce
President Donald Trump said Friday that incoming acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte should continue reducing the size of the intelligence bureaucracy, arguing that too many employees remain at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
“I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal.
Pulte, who currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is set to assume leadership of the intelligence office when Tulsi Gabbard departs on June 30.
Trump suggested Pulte’s temporary status could allow him to make difficult personnel decisions more easily.
“It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time,” Trump said.
The president added that Pulte could perform much of the difficult restructuring work before a permanent successor is selected.
“Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” Trump said. “Because, if he reduced the size, in conjunction with me … and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in after him … he can do a lot of the hard work.”
The comments build upon reforms already implemented under Gabbard, whose office launched a major restructuring effort known as “ODNI 2.0.”
Under that plan, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reduced its workforce from roughly 1,800 employees to approximately 1,300, a cut of nearly 40%.
At the time, Gabbard argued the agency had grown beyond its original mission.
“ODNI has become bloated, radically expanded in size, and distracted by tasks and requirements that fall outside its mandate,” her office said when announcing the restructuring.
The ODNI was created following the September 11 terrorist attacks to coordinate intelligence sharing among federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
In recent months, the office’s prominence has diminished somewhat as Trump relied heavily on John Ratcliffe during the conflict with Iran, while Gabbard focused on other initiatives.
Trump also indicated that Pulte may continue examining allegations related to the 2020 election.
“He may find out some things about the rigged election,” Trump told reporters Thursday.
The president defended appointing Pulte despite his limited traditional intelligence background.
“Look, I wasn’t greatly experienced in national security, and I think I’ve done a really great job with it. A lot of people would say that,” Trump said.
Trump further suggested he would like Pulte to review intelligence materials connected to the 2020 election and determine what information could be made public.
“I would say everything,” Trump told the Journal. “He should look at everything and make a determination.”
Pulte is expected to serve as acting intelligence chief for several months while the administration evaluates candidates for a permanent replacement.