President Trump has told The Wall Street Journal that he wants acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin firing a large number of employees as part of a broader shake-up of the U.S. intelligence community.
Trump said he has privately told Pulte that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees 18 federal intelligence agencies and units, is “unnecessary and/or too big”.
“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 WSJ, referring to holdovers from the Biden and Obama administrations.
Trump said he has directed Pulte to “start the process” of removing personnel and suggested the effort should continue with his permanent appointment once chosen and confirmed.
Speaking about Pulte’s acting role, Trump said the temporary status gives him more flexibility. “You’re less shackled. It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time,” he said, adding that changes could begin before a permanent director is confirmed.
“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 … he can do a lot of the hard work and we wouldn’t have to saddle somebody that goes in.”
