Intelligence Office Completes Fourth Round of Layoffs Under Acting Director Pulte

William Pulte, who serves as acting director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, disclosed Sunday that his organization has concluded its fourth workforce reduction. In a post on X, Pulte characterized the reductions as deliberate measures aimed at streamlining the agency and refocusing its mission on national security and legal compliance.

The personnel cuts represent an ongoing effort that began after Pulte assumed the acting role. In a July 10 post, Pulte indicated that a third round of layoffs had eliminated redundant or non-critical positions, claiming the intelligence community was functioning with greater efficiency and effectiveness than previously.

Pulte, who concurrently holds the position of director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, took the helm at ODNI following Tulsi Gabbard’s departure last month. Gabbard had announced in May her intention to step down due to her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis.

President Donald Trump selected Pulte for the acting role and later told the Wall Street Journal that he believed ODNI was “unnecessary and/or too big.” Trump indicated he wanted Pulte to “start the process” of reducing the agency’s workforce, particularly targeting personnel retained from previous administrations.

Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as the permanent DNI. Pulte expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the interim capacity and credited the administration with achieving operational and transparency improvements within weeks.