Bill Pulte Moves to Purge ODNI Staff Amid Transition

Acting U.S. spy chief Bill Pulte arrived at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence a day ahead of schedule, immediately demanding a complete staff roster to identify potential terminations. His arrival signals an aggressive shift in leadership for the agency, which has already seen significant workforce reductions over the last year.

Editorial·June 19, 2026·reads: 1,905

Bill Pulte Moves to Purge ODNI Staff Amid Transition

Pulte, a federal housing regulator appointed by President Donald Trump, steps into the role with no prior national security experience. His sudden appearance on Thursday caught current Director Tulsi Gabbard and her staff off guard, despite a brief notification regarding the visit. The move follows public directives from the White House to further shrink the ranks of the intelligence community, which oversees operations for the CIA and the National Security Agency.

While the ODNI did not comment on the potential layoffs, the atmosphere within the agency remains volatile. Gabbard, who is set to depart on June 19, previously oversaw a 40% reduction in the agency's workforce during her tenure. Pulte’s arrival marks a rapid escalation of those efforts, as he seeks to consolidate control over the intelligence apparatus during a period of heightened global conflict and internal restructuring.