Trump’s Acting Intel Chief Bill Pulte Arrives Early, Considers Job Cuts

Bill Pulte, President Trump's newly appointed acting director of national intelligence, arrived a day early and is considering significant job cuts within the agency, raising concerns among officials.

Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump's choice for the acting director of national intelligence, arrived at his new position a day ahead of schedule on Thursday. Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that Pulte requested a list of every employee in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to evaluate potential job cuts, with plans to reduce the workforce by hundreds.

Pulte's unexpected arrival surprised staff at ODNI, including the outgoing director, Tulsi Gabbard, who had received only a brief notice of his visit. Trump had previously indicated that Pulte, a loyal supporter with no prior intelligence experience, would officially start on Friday.

During his initial visit, Pulte met with legal counsel and agency staff. In a previous briefing with ODNI, he raised concerns when he asked if he could take the President’s Daily Brief (PDB) home, which is a highly classified document detailing key national security issues. One source noted that this characterization was misleading, as the PDB is typically provided electronically.

Pulte also inquired about his security clearance level, specifically whether it was top-secret, and whether he had access to a government plane. These questions were seen as surprising during a briefing meant to explain the core mission of the ODNI, according to one source familiar with the discussions.

CNN has sought comments from both the White House and ODNI regarding Pulte's actions and intentions.

Prior to his appointment, Pulte did not hold a security clearance that would allow him access to classified information, a requirement traditionally seen as essential for the role. A source indicated that Pulte showed a peculiar interest in his travel schedule and government travel arrangements, which some found unusual given the responsibilities of the position.

In addition, Pulte reportedly requested a protective security detail even before officially starting his role. These actions suggest that he intends to assertively begin his tenure as the head of the intelligence community, especially as Trump has tasked him with reducing the size of the intelligence agency and pursuing claims of election fraud.

Concerns have emerged among some Democrats and even some Republicans regarding Pulte's suitability for the role, as they fear he may take a more extreme approach than Gabbard in adhering to Trump's grievances, which contradicts the traditionally apolitical nature of the position.

Pulte's influence with Trump has reportedly grown over the past year, particularly during his time as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he directed the Justice Department to investigate several Democrats for alleged mortgage fraud related to Trump’s interests. Critics now worry that Pulte will leverage his new position to further pursue Trump's personal vendettas.

A source close to Pulte stated, "This isn’t something to overthink — President Trump wanted someone in that position who is a true loyalist, who will do what he wants him to do. He has that in Bill."

Pulte assumes control over 18 intelligence agencies amid a fragile agreement between the US and Iran to end a four-month conflict, during which Gabbard had a notably limited role. He also steps into a position that Gabbard utilized to seek evidence of voter fraud concerning the 2020 election, a pursuit that some analysts argue blurred the lines between foreign and domestic intelligence responsibilities established post-Watergate.

Even before his arrival, Pulte expressed eagerness to begin his tenure. He contacted Gabbard to inform her of his takeover, despite her understanding from the White House that she would remain in her role until the end of the month. Gabbard was taken aback and insisted she needed to hear it directly from Trump, who later discussed her departure date with her, settling on June 19, as first reported by Axios.

On his first day, Pulte attempted to attend Gabbard’s farewell ceremony at ODNI and expressed a desire to speak, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Pulte's rapid rise within Trump's inner circle has caused discontent among some of Trump's closest advisors. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has maintained a close-knit circle around the president, which Pulte has bypassed through direct communication with Trump.

Trump has stated that Pulte will continue to serve as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency while acting as the director of national intelligence, a decision that has puzzled many intelligence professionals, as the role is not typically seen as a part-time position.

Pulte might remain in his acting role longer than initially expected due to recent complications in the nomination process for Trump's permanent pick, Jay Clayton. Trump instructed Clayton to skip his confirmation hearing amid a contentious debate over a lapsed surveillance law, among other issues.

When asked about Clayton’s nomination status, Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked, "I’ve never been asked to slow a nomination down before, so that’s probably a good question for the White House."

Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton publicly expressed his disapproval, calling it "regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today."

A senior Senate GOP aide conveyed frustration within the party, stating, "There’s a lot of frustration in the conference. We want to support and advance the President’s agenda but it’s getting more difficult to do with the consistent curve balls out of left field."

Pulte did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday, and CNN is awaiting a response from the ODNI regarding his priorities in the new role.

Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed uncertainty about Pulte's goals and emphasized the importance of focusing on the prompt confirmation of Clayton as the permanent director of national intelligence. "I’ve had no interaction with him for months," Rounds remarked, stressing that the priority should be getting Clayton into the position as quickly as possible.

Trump mentioned earlier this month that Pulte "may find out some things about the rigged elections ... I think he wants to do it very much."

This situation has intensified concerns among election officials who fear that the undermining of electoral confidence from the ODNI may persist beyond Gabbard's exit. David Becker, an election law expert and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, criticized Gabbard for her extensive efforts and resources spent on investigating unfounded claims of voter fraud, stating that she found no evidence to support those allegations. Becker worries that Pulte has been chosen for the role because he shares similar beliefs in these conspiracy theories and may disregard factual evidence.