Pulte Moves to Gut Intel Bureaucracy on Day One as Acting DNI.

WHAT HAPPENED: Bill Pulte, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the new Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has begun implementing mass firings at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) on his first official day in the DNI role.

DETAIL: Reports state that Pulte arrived at the agency a day early on June 18, requested a list of employees, and met with agency lawyers as he prepared personnel decisions. The move comes after President Donald J. Trump nominated former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to serve as DNI last week, amid opposition to his earlier nomination of Pulte as the permanent DNI. Clayton’s confirmation has been delayed until the Senate approves his successor in New York, creating an interim period in which Pulte will lead the intelligence agency. Notably, it may be delayed further, as President Trump seeks to link his confirmation and the renewal of FISA to Congress approving election integrity measures in the SAVE America Act. This delay will allow Pulte to implement significant staffing changes, urged by President Trump, before Clayton potentially takes office.

IMPACT: The decision to initiate these cuts has stalled bipartisan efforts to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), with Democrats expressing opposition to proceeding while Pulte is in charge. Trump has backed Pulte strongly, saying of his work as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, “He’s very smart. He’s a person who’s got high integrity. He’s done a phenomenal job.”