President Donald Trump says he wants acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin shrinking the nation\u2019s intelligence bureaucracy, removing holdovers from previous administrations and helping reshape some of Washington\u2019s most powerful agencies before a permanent replacement is selected.<\/p>\n
Pulte\u2019s appointment came after Tulsi Gabbard\u2019s resignation and immediately drew attention because he can serve temporarily without Senate confirmation under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.<\/p>\n
The arrangement gives him authority over the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the 18 agencies it oversees, including the FBI and CIA.<\/p>\n
Trump made clear he sees Pulte\u2019s temporary status as an advantage rather than a limitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn\u2019t be there,\u201d Trump told The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n
The president later expanded on those comments while speaking with reporters, saying he wants Pulte to begin reducing the size of the intelligence apparatus and remove employees he views as part of an entrenched bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like him to fire a lot of people,\u201d Trump said Friday.<\/p>\n
According to Trump, Pulte\u2019s acting role gives him unusual flexibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re less shackled,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump suggested that having Pulte carry out major personnel and structural changes now could make things easier for a future permanent intelligence chief.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause, if he reduced the size, in conjunction with me and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in, he can do a lot of the hard work and we wouldn\u2019t have to saddle somebody that goes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
As acting DNI, Pulte now oversees a vast intelligence network, controls approximately $100 billion in annual spending and is responsible for delivering highly classified intelligence briefings to the president.<\/p>\n
The position also gives him broad authority regarding classified information and potential declassification decisions.<\/p>\n
Trump indicated that he would like Pulte to review additional classified records related to the 2020 election and allegations of voter fraud.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say everything\u2014he should look at everything and make a determination,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
Pulte, who previously served as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, reportedly spent recent weeks pursuing the intelligence position following Gabbard\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n
A businessman and social media personality before entering government, Pulte has emerged as one of Trump\u2019s most trusted administration officials.<\/p>\n
Supporters argue that his lack of a traditional intelligence background is actually an asset. They believe an outsider is better positioned to challenge what they view as a culture of career bureaucrats who have accumulated too much influence within federal agencies.<\/p>\n
The appointment also fits into a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce and increase accountability throughout the executive branch.<\/p>\n
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued workforce reductions, agency reorganizations and management changes across multiple departments.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence signaled support for that effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to working with Mr. Pulte and President Trump on additional initiatives to advance savings and root out deep state bad actors,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
Critics of the move have raised concerns about placing someone without intelligence experience in charge of agencies responsible for national security and intelligence gathering.<\/p>\n
Democrats have questioned whether a temporary appointee should wield such sweeping authority over agencies that play a central role in protecting the country and analyzing threats around the world.<\/p>\n