Intelligence Chief Bill Pulte Cheers Agency’s Latest Round Of Job Cuts—30% Staff Reduction

Forbes Published Jul 28, 2026 Reviewed Jul 28, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

The Senate is scheduled to vote on Tuesday to confirm Jay Clayton, the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the permanent Director of National Intelligence.

Interim Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced a 30% staff reduction as part of a fifth and 'near final' round of terminations, effective Tuesday.

approximately 30 % · staff Bill Pulte, Interim Director of National Intelligence

Interim Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte said the agency will conduct a fifth and “near final” round of terminations Tuesday, amounting to a 30% reduction in staff from weeks ago—as the Senate is set to confirm a permanent replacement for Pulte later Tuesday.

Pulte said “we are, this morning, Executing a 5th and Near Final Round of TERMINATIONS, an approximately 30% Staff Reduction from Weeks Ago,” he wrote on X, adding, “The Intelligence Community must protect the American people, NOT the political whims of the bloated and corrupt elite class.”

Pulte said Sunday on X that “as of this evening, we just finished a 4th round of thoughtful, measured layoffs.”

The Senate is scheduled to vote whether to confirm Jay Clayton, the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as Pulte’s permanent replacement, after President Donald Trump’s initial director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned in May.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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