Acting DNI Bill Pulte announces third round of ODNI layoffs, cites 'reducing redundant personnel'

WASHINGTON, DC: Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced on Friday, July 10, that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has begun a third round of workforce reductions, describing the move as part of an effort to streamline the agency.

The latest cuts continue the Trump administration's broader restructuring of federal agencies and the intelligence community. The announcement comes as the ODNI oversees intelligence coordination across 18 agencies during a period of heightened US military and diplomatic tensions with Iran.

Bill Pulte says ODNI is reducing redundant personnel

In a statement posted on X, Pulte said the latest reductions are aimed at eliminating positions considered unnecessary.

"US National Intelligence is operating more efficiently and effectively than ever before, and today, we started a third round of reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel," Pulte wrote. 

"DNI's future is exceptionally bright, and will be focused on following the law and the statute."

The latest announcement follows earlier reductions initiated after Pulte assumed the acting role following the departure of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 

Before the latest round of layoffs, Representative James Himes and Senator Mark Warner, the ranking Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, urged Pulte not to move forward with large-scale staffing changes while serving in an acting capacity.

The lawmakers, in a letter last month, warned that significant workforce reductions without congressional consultation could affect the agency's mission.

"Any large cuts would follow on a substantial downsizing that has already occurred in 2025 and risk jeopardizing the mission of an organization explicitly created after 9/11 to prevent any future attack," the letter stated.

They also argued that "making significant structural changes to ODNI, to include a reduction in force, is not an appropriate course of action for anyone in an acting capacity."

Pulte did not disclose how many employees were affected.

Third round of ODNI layoffs comes as permanent DNI nomination awaits Senate action

The third round of layoffs comes roughly a week after dozens of intelligence officials reportedly received termination notices under Pulte's leadership.

According to reports, intelligence officials familiar with the matter said leadership believed some employees had failed to provide complete intelligence assessments.

Several former senior intelligence officials, however, questioned those claims, saying they had never encountered such conduct during their careers and expressed skepticism over how those determinations had been reached.

Pulte's appointment has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, with critics pointing to his lack of prior national security experience. Republican Senator Thom Tillis also questioned the pace of the restructuring, saying staffing decisions should follow a comprehensive review of positions before eliminations are made.

President Donald Trump has nominated former US attorney Jay Clayton to serve as the next director of national intelligence, though Clayton's Senate confirmation process remains pending after the White House delayed consideration of the nomination.

Until a permanent director is confirmed, Pulte continues serving in the acting role while overseeing the latest phase of the agency's workforce reductions.