US intelligence cuts have begun under Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump’s acting Director of National Intelligence pick, CNN reported.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is “deep state firings.” CNN earlier reported that Pulte was considering cuts that could affect hundreds of employees.
The National Counterterrorism Centre and the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre are expected to be among the offices most affected by the restructuring.
ODNI departments were instructed to submit ranked personnel lists by Monday. Some officials interpreted the request as preparation for broad layoffs.
Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes warned that large cuts could undermine national security.
Read: Bill Pulte Eyes ODNI Cuts as US Spy Chief
In a letter, the Democratic lawmakers said major reductions could weaken an office created after the September 11 attacks to prevent future terrorist threats. A White House official referred questions to a Truth Social post by Trump.
Trump said he had named Pulte acting Director of National Intelligence and asked him to carry out immediate downsizing by returning staff to their home agencies.
The Director of National Intelligence oversees 18 US intelligence agencies. Trump has described Pulte’s appointment as temporary, but the duration of his role remains unclear.
