- Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has fired dozens of intelligence officials, MS Now reported on Friday.
- President Donald Trump tapped Pulte to lead the spy agency in June after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down from the role.
- Trump said last month that he wanted Pulte to "start the process" of firing large numbers of intelligence officials.
Pulte, whom President
Donald Trump tapped as acting spy chief in June, sent out notices of termination on Thursday to dozens of intelligence officials, MS Now reported, citing an intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The intelligence official told MS Now that the Trump administration was removing officials "who they believe are deep state" and who have allegedly failed to provide complete pictures of available intelligence.
The
White House and the office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Trump reportedly said in early June that he wanted Pulte to "start the process" of
firing large numbers of DNI employees. The office of DNI oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.
Amid congressional opposition to Pulte,
Trump in June announced that Jay Clayton, the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was his permanent pick for DNI.
The Senate attempted to fast-track Clayton's bid, scheduling a confirmation hearing for June 17. But
Trump scuttled the effort, instructing Clayton not to attend in a Truth Social post hours before the hearing and stating that Pulte would remain acting DNI in the interim. Pulte assumed the interim role on June 19, gaining access to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence data.<small>Source: CNBC</small>
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Acting DNI Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials: MS Now
CNBC
July 03, 2026
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