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ODNI Acting Director Cuts Staff, Democrats Warn Security Risks

6/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Acting Director Bill Pulte dismissed six political appointees and reassigned 45 officials at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Democratic lawmakers Senators Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes warned that the 2025 workforce cuts could undermine security, morale, and jeopardize the agency created after 9/11.
Sources said the ODNI workspace is more than half empty and that staff find the atmosphere numb, likening it to pandemic trauma.

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Story summary

Acting Director Bill Pulte dismissed six political appointees and reassigned 45 officials at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Democratic lawmakers Senators Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes warned that the 2025 workforce cuts could undermine security, morale, and jeopardize the agency created after 9/11.
Sources said the ODNI workspace is more than half empty and that staff find the atmosphere numb, likening it to pandemic trauma.