The Pulte ODNI firings have begun in earnest, with Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte dismissing six political appointees and removing dozens of career officials from the nation’s top intelligence coordinating office. According to four sources familiar with the moves, the shakeup marks the opening phase of a sweeping effort to shrink the agency.

The Scope of the Cuts

Pulte’s actions hit two distinct groups. He fired six political appointees originally installed by former Director Tulsi Gabbard. Separately, he removed 45 career intelligence officials who had been on joint duty assignment at the agency.

These career officials occupied an unusual position. While they worked at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, they remained technically employed by other agencies. As a result, rather than being terminated outright, they were sent back to their home offices.

Notably, the National Counterterrorism Center, a component of ODNI that many had expected to be a prime target, emerged untouched by this round of cuts. Pulte publicly praised the center’s staff on social media Tuesday evening, calling them true professionals and American patriots and describing it as a privilege to work alongside them.

More Firings May Follow

The reductions may not stop here. One source indicated that as many as two dozen additional firings could come in the weeks ahead, though the cuts likely wouldn’t extend much further than that. The same source noted that Pulte has been consulting career intelligence officials as he makes these decisions.

This first wave represents the initial step in Pulte’s broader mandate to dramatically downsize the spy office, an organization that had already been trimmed under Gabbard.

Why ODNI Is in the Crosshairs

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence serves as a policymaker and coordinator for the 18 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community. That central role has made it a target for some on the MAGA right, who view it as part of a “deep state” working to undermine the president.

Trump placed Pulte in the acting role with explicit instructions, writing on Truth Social that his mandate was to carry out the immediate and necessary downsizing of the office. The choice raised eyebrows given that Pulte has no national security experience, and it initially alarmed some Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Republicans Warm to Pulte

Those early concerns appear to have softened considerably. According to two sources familiar with closed-door discussions on the Hill, many Republican worries have eased.

A Republican Senate staffer captured the shift in sentiment, acknowledging that senators were genuinely surprised by the pick at first. But the staffer said Pulte had since assembled a detailed strategic plan to implement Trump’s reform agenda, worked closely with the Senate Intelligence Committee, and impressed Republican senators with his execution. The staffer even suggested Pulte might remain in the role for a while.

For many Republicans, the staffer added, Pulte’s willingness to shake up the agency and gut the bureaucracy is a feature rather than a flaw.

Democrats Sound the Alarm

Top Democrats on the intelligence committees have taken the opposite view, warning that mass cuts could endanger national security.

In a letter sent to Pulte on Monday, Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes voiced their concern over reports that he intended to fire or place on leave hundreds of ODNI officers as soon as this week. They acknowledged there might be room for responsible workforce reductions, but cautioned that large cuts, coming on top of substantial downsizing already carried out in 2025, could jeopardize the mission of an organization created specifically after 9/11 to prevent future terrorist attacks.

An Agency Born From 9/11

ODNI’s origins are deeply tied to the failures that preceded the September 11 attacks. It was created to break down the stove-piping of intelligence between agencies that had contributed to the nation’s inability to detect the plot in time.

Yet the office has also faced long-standing bipartisan criticism for bureaucratic inefficiency. Its relevance and authority, particularly compared to the CIA, have risen and fallen depending on the administration. The CIA director once led the entire intelligence community before ODNI was established.

Despite the criticism, the office has historically served as a crucial analytical hub. It produces the kind of interagency assessments that inform presidents, including the President’s Daily Brief, one of its signature products.

A Demoralized Workforce

The prospect of deep cuts has landed hard on an agency already struggling with morale and with attracting and retaining top government talent. Once considered a coveted posting, ODNI has seen its appeal steadily diminish.

The toll is visible in the workplace itself. Gabbard announced in 2025 that she planned to cut the workforce by 40 percent. Now, one source described the office spaces as more than half empty and disheveled.

The human impact appears just as stark. According to that source, the remaining staff are numb and unhappy, with one person comparing the experience to the trauma of the Covid pandemic.

As the cuts continue, the central question remains whether Pulte’s downsizing will streamline an agency long criticized for bloat, or hollow out an institution built to keep the country safe.