President Donald Trump wants incoming Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to slash the size of the U.S. intelligence bureaucracy.
As part of a broader effort to reshape the federal government, Pulte is expected to play a central role in carrying out Trump’s reform plans, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump told reporters Thursday that Bill Pulte, who currently holds the position of director for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), will only serving as the Acting Director of National Intelligence (DHI), not as his nominated replacement for Tulsi… pic.twitter.com/npiW63V3rl
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 5, 2026
In an interview on Friday, Trump told the outlet he has privately told Pulte that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees 18 intelligence agencies and units, is “unnecessary and/or too big.”
Earlier this week, Trump surprised many advisers by selecting Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to serve as intelligence chief. Some congressional Republicans expressed reservations about the pick, citing his lack of national security experience. (RELATED: FHFA Director Bill Pulte Named Acting Director Of National Intelligence)
Trump told the WSJ that he wants to see the ODNI reduced in size, arguing that “there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” particularly officials he described as holdovers from the Biden and Obama administrations.
When asked whether he was directing Pulte to fire employees, Trump said he wants him to “start the process,” adding that whoever is ultimately nominated to permanently lead the agency should continue those efforts.
Trump argued that Pulte’s acting status is an advantage, saying, “You’re less shackled” and that the temporary role gives him “more power” for a limited period of time.
Wall Street Journal quotes President Trump saying he would like Bill Pulte to fire “a lot of people” among the national intelligence agencies — exactly what the Senate is worried about head of next week’s FISA deadline pic.twitter.com/5vPSwEDfEV
— Brendan Pedersen (@BrendanPedersen) June 5, 2026
The president said he hopes Pulte can begin making changes before a permanent intelligence director is confirmed. “Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” Trump said, adding that Pulte can do “a lot of the hard work” before a permanent appointee takes over.
The President said he is interviewing candidates for the permanent role and emphasized that “Bill is not going to be there that long.”
Comparing the effort to Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s downsizing of the Department of Education, Trump said ODNI should be made “much smaller” and suggested it could “maybe even be terminated.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Trump Admin Intercepts $60 Million In Student Loan Fraud)
Trump also said he wants Pulte to pursue the release of additional classified records, including documents related to the 2020 election. When asked what records should be considered for disclosure, Trump responded, “I would say everything—he should look at everything and make a determination.”
The push for greater transparency comes as the ODNI was already undergoing changes under former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard announced last year that the agency would reduce spending by more than 40%, including by eliminating what she described as redundant personnel.
Trump’s remarks outlining his expectations for Pulte come just days before the June 12 expiration of the current extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
FISA 702 reauthorization failed because it did not contain a warrant requirement for spying on Americans.
The people who spied on the Trump campaign, Members of Congress, and countless other Americans hate the idea.
Come back with warrant requirement, and we’ll pass the bill. https://t.co/qML5Jq2rqR pic.twitter.com/ceG8bhGMFV
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 5, 2026
On Friday, a procedural vote to extend Section 702—which permits the warrantless collection of communications involving foreign nationals who are in contact with Americans—failed by a 47-52 margin.(RELATED: 7 Republicans Buck Party And Vote Against Extension Of Warrantless Spying Tool)
Seven Republican senators joined Democrats in opposing the measure, leaving the surveillance authority facing a June 12 expiration deadline unless Congress acts to renew it.