Trump orders immediate downsizing of intelligence office as bipartisan scrutiny intensifies
The acting Director of National Intelligence has been directed to cut staff and revert personnel to their home agencies, a move that has stalled congressional efforts to extend critical surveillance authorities.
President Donald Trump has issued a directive for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to undergo immediate downsizing, ordering interim chief Bill Pulte to revert staff to their home agencies upon his assumption of the role on June 19. The order, announced via a Truth Social post on Wednesday, marks the first major administrative action for Pulte, a businessman with no prior intelligence or military background.
Pulte’s appointment has triggered significant bipartisan friction, particularly within Congress where efforts to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) have stalled. Democrats have refused to extend the surveillance measure, which permits warrantless collection of communications involving foreign targets, until a permanent and experienced nominee is selected. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, echoed calls for a more qualified leadership, stating that the government requires professionals rather than a "weaponised DNI."
The legislative deadlock has drawn sharp criticism from intelligence committee members. Senator Mark Warner described Pulte’s interim appointment as "throwing a live hand grenade" into the negotiations for Section 702. The tension was evident in a recent Senate vote on a three-year extension, where all but one Democrat and seven Republicans voted against the measure. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was the sole Democrat to break party ranks in the 52-47 vote, citing specific concerns regarding Pulte’s suitability.
Critics have pointed to Pulte’s tenure at the Federal Housing Finance Agency as evidence of political bias, noting he has used the role to accuse prominent Trump adversaries, including Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James, of mortgage fraud. Democrats have accused the 38-year-old of weaponising his government position to target political enemies, a concern that has compounded fears about the integrity of US intelligence capabilities under his interim leadership.
Despite the political turmoil, legal filings indicate that an immediate shutdown of surveillance capabilities is not imminent. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has authorised continued collection under existing orders until March 2027, mitigating the risk of a total lapse in intelligence gathering. Pulte succeeds Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last month following her husband’s cancer diagnosis, while Trump maintains he is already searching for a permanent nominee with national security experience.
