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Acting DNI Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials: MS Now
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has initiated a series of firings within the U.S. intelligence community, targeting officials deemed part of the "deep state" or accused of withholding complete intelligence information.
- Pulte, appointed by President Trump in June, sent termination notices to dozens of intelligence officials, continuing a purge that began with the removal of political appointees from the previous DNI Tulsi Gabbard's tenure.
- The White House and DNI office have not commented on the firings, which have drawn bipartisan criticism from Congress concerned about Pulte's qualifications and actions.
- Trump initially sought to replace Pulte with Jay Clayton as DNI, but reversed course, keeping Pulte as acting DNI and halting Clayton's confirmation hearing shortly before it was scheduled.
- Pulte, who also directs the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has used his position to investigate Trump's opponents for alleged mortgage fraud while overseeing access to highly sensitive U.S. intelligence data.
