President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has directed incoming Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to immediately reduce the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), signaling a major restructuring of one of Washington’s most powerful intelligence bureaucracies.
In a post on social media, Trump said Pulte, who is scheduled to assume the acting role on June 19, has been instructed to carry out a significant downsizing effort and return personnel to the agencies from which they originated.
“I have directed Bill Pulte to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies,” Trump said.
The move reflects the administration’s broader effort to streamline federal agencies and reduce what many conservatives view as unnecessary layers of bureaucracy within the federal government. Supporters argue that the ODNI has expanded far beyond its original mission and now duplicates functions already performed by individual intelligence agencies.
Pulte's appointment has generated criticism from some lawmakers, who have pointed to his lack of a traditional intelligence background. Nevertheless, Trump’s allies argue that an outsider is precisely what is needed to challenge entrenched bureaucratic interests and implement meaningful reform.
The position was previously held by former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, whose own appointment drew significant attention and debate. Gabbard resigned last month to care for her ill husband, creating the vacancy that Pulte is now set to fill.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was established following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to improve coordination among America's intelligence agencies. Over time, however, critics have argued that the office has grown into an additional bureaucratic layer that slows decision-making and increases administrative costs.
Trump’s directive appears aimed at reversing that trend by shifting personnel back to their original agencies and reducing the size of the central office. For supporters of government reform, the decision represents an effort to prioritize efficiency over bureaucracy.
Not surprisingly, the move has already sparked debate in Washington. Whenever someone proposes shrinking a federal office, the people employed by that office rarely respond with enthusiastic applause.
As Pulte prepares to take over later this month, attention will turn to how aggressively the downsizing plan is implemented and what impact it may have on the intelligence community. For the Trump administration, however, the message is clear: a leaner government and greater accountability remain key priorities as efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy continue.
