– 5 entries
Acting DNI Pulte's ODNI Staff Purge
Days after becoming acting Director of National Intelligence, Bill Pulte directed a purge of career intelligence staff that proceeded through multiple undisclosed rounds over several weeks, without the administration ever publishing comprehensive figures on positions or offices affected. The episode collects each disclosed round of cuts as it's recorded.
On June 22, 2026, three days after assuming the acting DNI role, Bill Pulte directed ODNI offices to submit ranked lists of personnel for cuts, opening a purge of career intelligence professionals that proceeded in at least five disclosed rounds over five weeks: a first round of firings on June 23 (six political appointees, roughly 45 career officers reassigned); a third round announced July 10; a fourth round announced July 27; and a fifth, "near final" round announced July 28 citing a roughly 30% staff reduction. At no point did Pulte publicly disclose comprehensive numbers, positions, or offices affected for any round — outside reporting put the cumulative toll at roughly half of ODNI's prior ~2,000-person workforce. This episode collects the directive and each disclosed round as it is recorded; it should absorb future rounds as they occur.
2026 Events (5)
Acting DNI Pulte announced a fifth, 'near final' round of ODNI terminations, citing a roughly 30% staff reduction
On July 28, 2026, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte posted on X that ODNI was "Executing a 5th and Near Final Round of TERMINATIONS, an approximately 30% Staff Reduction from Weeks Ago," framing the cuts as necessary so the intelligence community would "protect the American people, NOT the political whims of the bloated and corrupt elite class." The announcement came hours before the Senate's confirmation vote on permanent DNI nominee Jay Clayton and one day after a fourth round of cuts.
Acting DNI Pulte announced a fourth round of ODNI staff cuts, again without disclosing numbers or positions affected
On July 27, 2026, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte posted on X that ODNI had "just finished a 4th round of thoughtful, measured layoffs," continuing a pattern of unquantified staff reductions dating to his June 22 directive. Pulte did not disclose how many employees were affected, which positions were eliminated, or whether staff were terminated or reassigned. The announcement came as the Senate considered permanent DNI nominee Jay Clayton's confirmation.
Acting DNI Pulte announced a third round of ODNI staff cuts, again declining to disclose numbers or positions affected
On July 10, 2026, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced on X that ODNI had begun a third round of staff reductions, describing the office as "reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel." As with the prior rounds, Pulte did not disclose how many employees were affected, which positions were eliminated, or whether staff were fired outright or reassigned. The announcement followed the first round of firings on June 23 and preceded a fourth round on July 27.
Acting DNI Pulte fired six political appointees and removed dozens of career intelligence officers in first ODNI purge round
On June 23, 2026, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte carried out the first round of removals under his ODNI purge: six political appointees installed by former Director Tulsi Gabbard were fired, and roughly 45 career intelligence officers on joint-duty assignment were stripped of their details and sent back to their home agencies, with additional career officials removed from their positions, according to CNN and CBS News. The cuts followed Pulte's June 22 directive ordering ODNI offices to submit ranked lists of personnel for removal.
Acting DNI Pulte ordered ODNI offices to rank personnel for mass firings, targeting career intelligence professionals
On June 22, 2026, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte directed Office of the Director of National Intelligence offices to submit ranked lists of their personnel for cuts, beginning an expected mass purge of career intelligence professionals. The National Counterterrorism Center and National Counterintelligence and Security Center were identified as facing the deepest cuts. Pulte, who has no national-security background, assumed the acting DNI role on June 19 following Tulsi Gabbard's departure, and the firings proceed under a June 5 Trump directive to reduce the size of the intelligence community.