Acting U.S. Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced a third round of staff reductions on Friday after being urged by President Donald Trump in recent weeks to shrink the agency’s ranks.
Pulte stated, “U.S. National Intelligence is operating more efficiently and effectively than ever before, and today, we started a third round of reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel.” The number of roles or personnel being terminated was not provided.
The Trump administration has attempted to remake U.S. agencies and institutions by installing Trump loyalists and cracking down on dissent. The effort has led to the elimination of vital roles across government bodies, according to political experts.
Pulte, an ally of Trump, has no prior national security experience, causing Trump to face a political backlash after the Republican leader’s loyalist was picked to fill the role temporarily.
The nomination hearing for Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee to serve as the next U.S. director of national intelligence to lead the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, is scheduled for July 15.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
