Workforce Update: ODNI Downsizing Begins as Senate Pushes Cyber Hiring Changes
Dozens of intelligence officials have reportedly been removed from joint duty assignments and returned to their home agencies as acting Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Director Bill Pulte begins a workforce downsizing effort.
According to CNN, acting director Pulte removed dozens of career intelligence officials who were on joint duty assignment, sending them back to their home agency. The acting director also reportedly fired six political appointees put in place by former Director Tulsi Gabbard.
According to CBS News, one of those was William Ruger, deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, who was placed on administrative leave.
CBS also reports that acting director Pulte has been asking deputies and others for suggestions on the cuts which the report categorized as “thoughtful and methodical.”
This comes as President Trump has stated his desire to downsize the office.
“(I) have asked him (Pulte) to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies,” wrote President Trump on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, the top Democrats on both the Senate and House Intelligence Committees wrote to acting director Pulte, asking him to ensure the job reductions are needed before acting.
“While there is room to consider responsible reductions to ODNI’s workforce, any large cuts would follow on a substantial downsizing that has already occurred in 2025 and risk jeopardizing the mission of an organization explicitly created after 9/11 to prevent any future such terrorist attack,” wrote Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT).
Lawmakers Target Cyber Workforce Challenges
Meanwhile the Senate proposed new tools to beef up the Department of Defense’s (DOD) cyber workforce in its 2027 defense policy bill.
That includes a provision to make it easier for employees to move between the cyber excepted service (CES) and the competitive service, without having to start from scratch. The bill would also shorten the CES probationary period from three years to two, bringing it in line with other personnel systems.
Another measure seeks to ban the Pentagon's use of fiscal 2027 funds to carry out hiring freezes, reductions in force, or hiring delays at public shipyards.
It would also require the Pentagon to give Congress a 45 days’ notice before approving any workforce change that would result in the cutting of 50 or more full-time employees.
