Trump directs acting intelligence chief to cut staff amid criticism over Pulte pick

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump is urging Bill Pulte, his new acting director of national intelligence, to reduce the size of the office amid criticism over his temporary appointment.

“I’ve heard that’s way too high for way too long,” Trump told reporters Friday aboard Air Force One. “If he cut, I wouldn’t mind that.”

Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an earlier interview Friday that he asked Pulte to start the process of firing employees of an office that has already faced significant cuts during the president’s second term.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and was created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to improve information-sharing.

Trump’s decision to put Pulte in charge of that office has faced backlash on Capitol Hill, including from some Republicans, because Pulte has no known national security experience.

Pulte has also targeted the president’s perceived political opponents in his other role leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency by making criminal referrals alleging insurance and mortgage fraud.

“Mr. Pulte has no national security expertise. None. We’re not even sure if he’s got a basic security clearance,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee. “This role is too important to be filled by a part-time, unqualified individual.”

Trump praised Pulte on Friday, calling him “very talented.” He also indicated that he is interviewing five other candidates to permanently replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned from the role following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

“All people that do that kind of thing, and they’re very respected people,” Trump added, without naming any of the individuals under consideration.

At least for now, concerns over Pulte’s temporary appointment have delayed the renewal of a national security surveillance program that he would help administer. The Senate blocked an extension of the program Friday, but another vote is expected next week before it expires June 12.

Seven Republican senators joined nearly all Democrats in opposing a procedural vote to advance the short-term extension.

The tool is part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and allows agencies like the CIA and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant.

Critics have raised concerns that Americans’ communications are sometimes swept up in the process and are pushing for a warrant requirement when accessing those communications. Others argue such a requirement risks hamstringing law enforcement. Negotiations on reforms are expected to continue if a short-term extension is passed.