The acting US intelligence chief appointed by President Donald Trump announced a significant staff reduction in the US intelligence community on Tuesday. This announcement comes ahead of a Senate vote on the appointment of a new national intelligence director.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte revealed on social media the initiation of the fifth and nearly final round of layoffs, which will reduce the workforce by approximately 30% compared to just a few weeks ago. He emphasized that the intelligence community should prioritize protecting the American people, not “the political whims of a bloated and corrupt elite class.” As with previous rounds of cuts, Pulte did not disclose specific details or numbers.
Criticism of the Appointment and Trump Administration’s Plans
The announcement came just hours before the scheduled Senate vote to confirm Jay Clayton as the permanent Director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration. The appointment of Pulte, who previously led the housing sector regulator, has faced criticism due to his lack of experience and his involvement in mortgage fraud investigations against individuals whom Trump viewed as political opponents, including Lisa Cook, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The Trump administration is also pursuing a substantial reduction of the federal apparatus through layoffs and the closure of entire agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Source: Bloomberg
