Mass Layoffs Begin in U.S. Intelligence on Trump’s Orders

Acting Director of U.S. National Intelligence Bill Pulte has begun mass staff cuts, a source familiar with the situation told CNN. The source did not specify how many people would be affected by the layoffs.

CNN’s sources had previously said that Pulte planned to cut hundreds of employees at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which coordinates the work of all U.S. intelligence agencies. According to the network, the cuts could also significantly affect the National Counterterrorism Center and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

The situation in the intelligence community has raised concern in the U.S. Congress. Members of the intelligence committees in both chambers—Democrats Mark Warner and Jim Himes—sent Pulte a letter. They warned that such actions could threaten national security and recalled that cuts of this kind require coordination with Congress.

Commenting on the situation, the White House referred to a recent post by Donald Trump on Truth Social, where the president said he had instructed Pulte to carry out staff reductions.

Bill Pulte became acting director of National Intelligence in early June. Before that, he headed the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He has no experience working in intelligence agencies or national-security structures.

Trump said Pulte had taken over National Intelligence temporarily, but did not specify how long he would hold the post.