Trump tells acting DNI Bill Pulte to start shrinking the intelligence agency
Trump names Tulsi Gabbard’s successor
President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to tap Bill Pulte, the chairman of Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence following Tulsi Gabbard’s exit later in June.
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President Donald Trump has said he wants Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin winding down the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) before a permanent replacement is in place – signaling a potentially aggressive effort to reduce the size of the agency responsible for coordinating the nation’s intelligence community.
Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he has privately instructed Pulte to begin what he described as a broad effort to move ODNI, calling the office “unnecessary and/or too large” and saying he wants the acting intelligence chief to “begin the process” of staff reductions before a full director is confirmed.
“I’d like to see it less. I think there’s a lot of people where they shouldn’t be,” Trump said, pointing to holdovers from Obama and Biden.
Asked if he wanted Pulte to fire the staff, Trump said he wanted the acting intelligence chief to “start the process,” adding that whoever he appoints to lead the office permanently should continue that work.
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President Donald Trump said he wants Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to soon start reducing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) before a permanent appointee takes over. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press; Mark Schifelbein/The Associated Press)
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard abruptly announced her resignation on May 22, effective June 30, citing her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis.
The president named Pulte, who currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to the acting role in early June. Because the position is temporary, Pulte does not need Senate confirmation and can serve up to 210 days.
Trump suggested that Pulte’s acting position would make it easier for him to make changes before a permanent director is confirmed.
“You’re not tied down that much,” Trump said. “It gives you more power, you know, for a limited time.”
The White House did not respond to questions from Fox News Digital about whether Pulte will be nominated for confirmation as the permanent director of national intelligence.
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“Frankly, it would be good for him to shake it up before the people come,” Trump said. “Because, if he’s downsized, teaming up with me … and possibly teaming up with someone coming in … he can do a lot of the hard work and we won’t have to arrest someone coming in.”
The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tom Cotton, quickly endorsed the effort, saying the office had grown beyond its original purpose and renewing his long-standing support for dramatically downsizing — or eliminating — the office.
“President Trump is right: ODNI has grown far beyond its original mandate,” Cotton wrote in X. “I have long advocated the reduction, if not complete abolition, of this regime.”
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“It’s time to bring these officials back to their domestic facilities so they can focus on real intelligence work. I support President Trump in this effort.”
The ODNI was established in 2004 following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission and was designed to improve cooperation between US intelligence agencies after the failure to share sensitive information before the terrorist attacks.
The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tom Cotton, quickly endorsed the effort, saying the office had grown beyond its original purpose and renewing his long-standing support for dramatically downsizing — or eliminating — the office. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
The office oversees and coordinates the work of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and components.
Cotton has long been among lawmakers who say the agency has outgrown its original mission. Earlier in 2026, he introduced legislation that would close ODNI to 650 workers.
The office had about 1,800 employees at the start of Trump’s second administration, although outgoing Director of National Intelligence Gabbard said he has cut staff by about 25 percent.
Trump’s latest comments suggest the administration could pursue a more far-reaching rebuilding effort than previously suggested — and that Pulte may be tasked with starting that process before a permanent nominee is in place.
The president’s choice of Pulte as acting DNI surprised many lawmakers and national security observers because the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency has no intelligence or national security background.
Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed concern about his nomination shortly after it was announced.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard abruptly announced her resignation on May 22, effective June 30, citing her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Anyone who fills this role of such great public trust must have the extensive national security experience required by law, and no nominee who exceeds this requirement will earn my vote,” McConnell said.
“Trump thinks Bill Pulte can be both the director of the housing regulator and the director of national intelligence,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in a video posted to X. “You can’t do both jobs… this is annoying.”
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Trump, however, suggested that Pulte’s interim status is exactly what makes him qualified to carry out the administration’s plans for the office.
The president said he hopes Pulte can begin reducing the size of ODNI before it takes a permanent appointee, allowing the acting chief to complete the “hard work” associated with the effort.
