President Donald Trump says he wants acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to slim down the nation’s sprawling intelligence bureaucracy and begin removing holdovers from the Obama and Biden administrations, taking advantage of a legal loophole that allows his new intelligence chief to bypass Senate confirmation.
Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, Bill Pulte can temporarily serve as the nation’s top intelligence official without undergoing a confirmation battle, giving him immediate authority over the 18 agencies overseen by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, including the CIA and FBI.
Trump told The Wall Street Journal the intelligence community has become bloated and packed with officials who should no longer be there.
“I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” Trump said.
The president told reporters he wants Bill Pulte, who was elevated this week from his post as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to “start the process” of reducing the size of the intelligence apparatus even though he is serving only in an acting capacity.
Pulte’s surprise appointment following Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation sparked criticism from some Republicans on Capitol Hill. But by serving temporarily, he avoids a potentially contentious Senate confirmation process.
“You’re less shackled,” Trump said of Pulte’s status. “It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.”
Trump suggested he wants Bill Pulte to carry out much of the difficult work before a permanent intelligence chief is chosen.
“Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” Trump added.
“Because, if he [Pulte] reduced the size, in conjunction with me …and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in … he can do a lot of the hard work and we wouldn’t have to saddle somebody that goes in.”
As acting DNI, Pulte will oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies, control roughly $100 billion in annual spending and deliver highly classified briefings to the president. The role also grants him broad authority to declassify secret records.
Trump told the Journal he wants more classified documents tied to the 2020 election and his claims of voter fraud reviewed for possible release.
“I would say everything—he should look at everything and make a determination,” Trump said.
Pulte had reportedly been pursuing the job in recent weeks after Gabbard’s sudden departure, assuring Trump that he would faithfully execute the administration’s directives.
It remains unclear when any personnel cuts might begin or whether dismissals have already occurred.
A spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said: “We look forward to working with Mr. Pulte and President Trump on additional initiatives to advance savings and root out deep state bad actors.”
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
