Trump's Acting Director of National Intelligence Launches Sudden Firings at Top US Spy Agency, Sources Reveal
President Donald Trump's acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, has started firing staff at the agency, according to sources. Pulte, a Trump loyalist with no intelligence experience, took over the agency last week and has pledged to cut hundreds of jobs. The National Counterterrorism Center is expected to be heavily affected, although the exact number of job losses is not yet clear.
Trump has made it clear that he wants Pulte to reduce the agency's workforce, stating that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has been "way too high for way too long". In a recent interview, Trump expressed his desire for Pulte to "start the process" of firing personnel, citing his role as acting director as "less shackled".
Pulte's appointment has been controversial, with his background in launching probes into perceived political enemies of the president. Targets of these investigations have included Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, and former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, all of whom have denied wrongdoing.
The appointment has also led to the lapse of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the federal government to collect communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant. Trump had previously announced plans to nominate U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to permanently lead ODNI, but the confirmation process has been put on hold.
Trump has made it clear that he wants Pulte to reduce the agency's workforce, stating that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has been "way too high for way too long". In a recent interview, Trump expressed his desire for Pulte to "start the process" of firing personnel, citing his role as acting director as "less shackled".
Pulte's appointment has been controversial, with his background in launching probes into perceived political enemies of the president. Targets of these investigations have included Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, and former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, all of whom have denied wrongdoing.
The appointment has also led to the lapse of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the federal government to collect communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant. Trump had previously announced plans to nominate U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to permanently lead ODNI, but the confirmation process has been put on hold.
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