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PoliticsActing DNI Bill Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials
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Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has fired dozens of intelligence officials, MS Now reported on Friday. Pulte, appointed by President Donald Trump in June after Tulsi Gabbard resigned, sent termination notices on Thursday to officials believed by the administration to be part of the 'deep state' and allegedly failing to provide complete intelligence pictures. The firings expand on earlier eliminations of Gabbard's political appointees. Trump had said he wanted Pulte to 'start the process' of firing large numbers of DNI employees. The office oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies including the CIA and NSA. Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for the move. Though Trump nominated Jay Clayton as permanent DNI, he scuttled Clayton's Senate confirmation hearing, leaving Pulte in the acting role with access to sensitive intelligence.
Source report
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), during a news conference in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2026. Credit: Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has fired dozens of intelligence officials, MS Now reported on Friday.
Pulte, whom President Donald Trump tapped as acting spy chief in June after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down from the role, sent termination notices on Thursday to dozens of intelligence officials, according to MS Now, citing an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The intelligence official told MS Now that the Trump administration was removing officials "who they believe are deep state" and who have allegedly failed to provide complete pictures of available intelligence.
Background
- Trump said last month that he wanted Pulte to "start the process" of firing large numbers of intelligence officials.
- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.
- CNN first reported in June that Pulte had eliminated several political appointees who served under former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation in May.
Response and Criticism
The White House and the ODNI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Trump's decision to tap Pulte has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism from members of Congress.
Pulte, who also serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has used his position to investigate opponents of Trump for alleged mortgage fraud.
Clayton Nomination
Amid congressional opposition to Pulte, Trump in June announced that Jay Clayton — the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission — was his permanent pick for DNI.
The Senate attempted to fast-track Clayton's confirmation, scheduling a hearing for June 17. However, Trump scuttled the effort, instructing Clayton not to attend in a Truth Social post hours before the hearing and stating that Pulte would remain acting DNI in the interim.
Pulte assumed the interim role on June 19, gaining access to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence data.
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Trump appoints housing chief Bill Pulte as acting intelligence director