WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is signaling that a major shake-up could be coming to America’s intelligence bureaucracy after directing newly installed acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin examining staffing levels across the nation’s spy agencies.
The move has already sent shockwaves through Washington, where critics see a potential political purge and supporters argue it is a long-overdue effort to shrink a federal apparatus they believe has grown too large and too insulated from accountability.
Speaking about the intelligence community’s vast network of agencies — including the CIA, FBI and other offices overseen by the Director of National Intelligence — Trump made clear he believes the system has become bloated.
“How long is @pulte going to be in that position?”@POTUS: “Depends on how long it takes to get somebody approved. He’ll do a very good job. He’ll watch it closely. Bill Pulte’s very good, he’s very talented.” pic.twitter.com/ko2fM7Fp2M
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 5, 2026
“I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal.
The president also suggested Pulte’s temporary status could make it easier to carry out controversial reforms before a permanent intelligence chief is nominated and subjected to Senate scrutiny.
“You’re less shackled,” Trump said. “It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.”
That remark immediately fueled debate across Washington about whether the administration is attempting to use an acting appointment to accelerate changes that might face greater resistance through the normal confirmation process.
Pulte’s elevation stunned many political observers. The former real-estate executive and housing regulator was tapped to replace former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last month amid family health concerns involving her husband.
🚨 JUST IN: PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS ACTING DNI BILL PULTE TO CARRY OUT MASS FIRINGS — WSJ
LFG 🔥
Now we know why the Deep State and establishment senators are panicking…
“I think there are a LOT of people in there that shouldn’t be there [in the Intel community],” Trump told… pic.twitter.com/7C0bPc0dzw
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 5, 2026
Now Pulte finds himself in one of the most powerful positions in government — overseeing intelligence coordination across 18 agencies, controlling access to some of the nation’s most closely guarded secrets, and helping supervise an intelligence budget that runs into the tens of billions of dollars annually.
Trump indicated he wants action quickly. “Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” the president said. “Because, if he 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.”
The comments have fueled speculation that workforce reductions could arrive sooner rather than later, although the administration has not publicly detailed any timetable or identified specific agencies or divisions that could face cuts.
The White House is also reportedly interested in expanding the release of classified materials. Trump said he would like Pulte to review additional government records connected to the 2020 election and determine what information could potentially be made public.
“I would say everything — he should look at everything and make a determination,” Trump said.
Supporters of the effort argue greater transparency could restore public confidence in federal institutions. Critics counter that intelligence agencies must carefully balance transparency against national-security concerns.
For now, Washington is left reading the tea leaves. Trump has handed Pulte an unusually broad mandate, and both allies and opponents are watching closely to see whether the administration’s talk of downsizing translates into actual pink slips.
