U.S. National Intelligence has completed another round of staff reductions
Acting Director of U.S. National Intelligence William Pulty announced the completion of the fourth phase of staff reductions at the agency.
The decision to streamline the workforce was made amid calls from U.S. President Donald Trump to reform the agency’s structure. He had previously stated that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is too large and in need of change.
"Since I became Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been sensibly and cautiously reducing the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), focusing its work on national security, the law, and statutory mandates,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“As of this evening, we have just completed the fourth phase of thoughtful and measured reductions. Thank you!” he added.
Earlier, on July 10, Palt noted in a post that “the U.S. intelligence community is operating more effectively than ever, and today we began the third phase of reducing redundant or non-critical positions. The future of National Intelligence is extremely promising and will focus on compliance with the law and statutory requirements."
U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Paltie, who also heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting Director of National Intelligence.
The previous Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, stepped down last month. In May, she announced her intention to resign due to her husband’s diagnosis of bone cancer.
Even before Palthe’s appointment, The Wall Street Journal reported that during an interview, Trump told him he considered the Office of the Director of National Intelligence “unnecessary or too big.”
“I’d like it to be smaller. I think there are a lot of people there who shouldn’t be there,” the president said, referring to staff members who had remained from the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
When asked if he was calling on Paltie to make layoffs, Trump replied that he wanted him to “start the process,” and for the future permanent Director of National Intelligence to continue these changes.
Trump subsequently nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
“I am immensely grateful to the President for the opportunity to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence. He is truly the best, and it is a great honor for me to work for him. Although it has only been a few weeks, we have already achieved a great deal—both in operational activities and in matters of transparency. Thank you, Mr. President,” Paltie wrote on Sunday on his personal X page.
Fox News reported this.
Video: U.S. delegation familiarizes itself with Ukrainian drones.
Earlier, Laura Loomer, a blogger close to Trump, called on the U.S. to provide Ukraine with more Patriot missiles.
As a reminder, Russian drones attacked the Chernihiv region, damaging a gas station and a resort.
The WOG gas station chain in Kyiv and the Kyiv region will temporarily suspend nighttime operations due to the increased risk of enemy shelling.
