Acting Spy Chief Pulte Moves to Purge ODNI Staff

Pulte, a federal housing regulator appointed by President Donald Trump, met with legal counsel and staff to assess the workforce of the ODNI, which oversees high-level operations at the CIA and the National Security Agency. The unannounced visit caught outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard off guard, according to reports. Gabbard, who previously slashed the agency’s staff by 40% during her tenure, concludes her service this week.

Representative Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, condemned the potential purge, arguing that Pulte lacks the legal qualifications for the role. Himes warned that the committee intends to aggressively scrutinize all personnel decisions and declassification efforts during Pulte’s interim period. The administration’s broader strategy remains in flux, as Trump recently postponed the confirmation hearing for his permanent nominee, Jay Clayton, to leverage a standoff over voter identification legislation.