Trump Wants Controversial New Acting Intelligence Chief Pulte To Start Firing Staff

2 hours ago 3

Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics.

Jun 05, 2026, 01:07pm EDTJun 05, 2026, 01:16pm EDT

Topline

President Donald Trump said he wants Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin slashing staff at the agency, he told The Wall Street Journal Friday, as his appointment of Pulte, a controversial figure in the Trump administration, has been widely criticized.

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 27: William Pulte, nominee to be director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is sworn in to his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Thursday, February 27, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images