UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump has ordered soon-to-be acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to initiate a drastic reduction in the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), setting the stage for a potentially aggressive overhaul of the agency responsible for coordinating the nation's intelligence community.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Trump has privately instructed Pulte to begin streamlining ODNI, describing the office as "unnecessary and/or too big" and expressing a desire to see it significantly downsized. The President believes that a leaner ODNI would be more efficient and effective in its role.
Trump's vision for a smaller ODNI involves eliminating positions that he sees as redundant or unnecessary, suggesting that many employees are holdovers from previous administrations and do not belong in the agency. He wants Pulte to "start the process" of reducing personnel before a permanent director is confirmed.
The President's comments suggest that Pulte's temporary status could provide him with the flexibility to implement changes without being constrained by Senate confirmation or bureaucratic red tape. Trump noted that Pulte's acting status "sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton has quickly endorsed Trump's effort to downsize ODNI, arguing that the office has expanded beyond its original purpose. Cotton has long advocated for dramatically downsizing or even eliminating the office, and his support suggests that Trump's plans may have significant backing in Congress.
ODNI was established in 2004 to improve coordination among U.S. intelligence agencies, but some lawmakers argue that it has grown beyond its original mission. Cotton introduced legislation earlier in 2026 to cap ODNI at 650 employees, a significant reduction from its current workforce of roughly 1,800 employees.
Trump's selection of Pulte as acting DNI raised concerns among lawmakers and national security observers due to Pulte's lack of experience in intelligence or national security. However, Trump believes that Pulte's temporary status makes him well-suited to carry out the administration's plans for ODNI.
The President hopes that Pulte can complete much of the "hard work" associated with downsizing ODNI before a permanent nominee takes over, allowing the acting chief to make significant changes without being hindered by bureaucratic obstacles.
