politics

Trump says he wants Bill Pulte to 'start the process' of shrinking intelligence office

Updated on: June 5, 2026 / 2:45 PM EDT / CBS News

Trump says he wants Bill Pulte to 'start the process' of shrinking intelligence office

TL;DR

  • President Trump wants Bill Pulte to begin shrinking the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
  • Trump described the ODNI as "unnecessary" or "too big" and suggested it "should maybe even be terminated."
  • The president believes Pulte, in an acting capacity, has more power to make changes.
  • An ODNI official noted previous staff cuts and savings, expressing a desire to work with Pulte.
  • Trump is also considering Pulte for permanent director and has mentioned Pulte investigating "rigged elections."
  • Concerns exist about Pulte's qualifications due to a lack of national security experience, and some lawmakers may oppose his oversight of intelligence agencies.