Acting Director of National Intelligence of the United States William Pulte said on Sunday that his agency has completed the fourth phase of staff reductions. This was reported by Fox News, writes UNN.
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"Since I became Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been intelligently and carefully reducing the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), focusing its work on issues of national security, law, and statutory authorities," he wrote on social media 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, Pulte noted in a post that "the U.S. intelligence community is operating more efficiently than ever, and today we began the third phase of reducing duplicate or non-critical positions. The future of National Intelligence is extremely promising and will be focused on compliance with law and statutory norms."
U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Pulte, who also heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as Acting Director of National Intelligence.
Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard left the post last month. In May, she announced her intention to resign due to her husband's diagnosis of bone cancer.
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Even before Pulte'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 large."
"I would like it to be smaller. I think there are a lot of people there who shouldn't be there," the president said, referring to employees remaining from the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
When asked if he was calling on Pulte to make layoffs, Trump replied that he wanted him to "start the process," and the future permanent Director of National Intelligence would continue these changes.
Subsequently, Trump nominated Southern District of New York prosecutor Jay Clayton for the position of 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 to work for him. Although only a few weeks have passed, much has already been achieved — both in operational activities and in matters of transparency. Thank you, Mr. President," Pulte wrote on his personal X page on Sunday.