Overview
- Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees sent a June 22 letter to Bill Pulte telling him not to make major workforce changes or declassify material without career input and proper procedures.
- Multiple reports say Pulte directed staff to compile a list of about 300 National Counterterrorism Center employees for potential removal and may announce broader ODNI cuts, though those reports have not been independently verified.
- Representative Jason Crow publicly said he fears Americans are at greater risk with Pulte serving as acting DNI, saying the housing finance official lacks the intelligence experience that the role requires.
- Pulte’s installation helped stall bipartisan momentum to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lapsed earlier this month and has created legal and operational uncertainty for overseas intelligence collection.
- Lawmakers reminded Pulte of legal obligations to preserve records of any personnel or declassification actions and noted under the Vacancies Reform Act he could serve temporarily through August, a timeline that keeps oversight and confirmation questions live.