Key facts
- President Trump wants acting DNI Bill Pulte to fire intelligence employees.
- Trump believes the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is unnecessary or too large.
- Trump indicated a desire for a smaller ODNI.
- Pulte was selected by Trump to serve as interim director of national intelligence.
- Pulte's appointment has faced criticism due to his lack of national security experience.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire for acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to initiate the termination of a significant number of employees within the U.S. intelligence community. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump stated his belief that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees 18 federal intelligence agencies, is 'unnecessary and or too big.' He indicated a preference for a smaller organization, suggesting that 'a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there.' The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment. Trump had previously selected Pulte, a mortgage regulator, to serve as the interim director of national intelligence when Tulsi Gabbard departs the role on June 30. Pulte's appointment has encountered criticism from Democrats and some Republican senators due to his perceived lack of national security experience.