Acting Intelligence Director Pulte Fires Dozens of Officials

On July 3, 2026, dozens of officials at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence began receiving termination notices under Bill Pulte, whom President Trump named acting director of national intelligence in June. According to intelligence officials cited by NBC News and MS Now, the administration characterized those removed as "deep state" personnel who allegedly failed to provide complete intelligence assessments. The firings followed Pulte's earlier removal of six political appointees who had served under former director Tulsi Gabbard.

The mass dismissals renew long-running concerns about the politicization of the intelligence community and the insulation of career analysts from partisan pressure. Former senior intelligence officials disputed the stated rationale, saying they had not known of analysts withholding information from superiors, and Pulte — who has limited national security experience — has drawn bipartisan concern in Congress over his handling of the agency.

The terminations were being carried out in early July; the administration has not released names or a full accounting, and congressional reaction has been critical.