Congressional Democrats have issued a formal warning to acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte against large-scale firings within the intelligence community. The letter, sent late last week, cautions that mass terminations could undermine national security and violate federal employment laws.
Current and former officials indicate Pulte is preparing to announce significant cuts to his office as early as Monday. The proposed reductions would target both career staff and political appointees across multiple intelligence agencies.
Democrats argue the move would disrupt ongoing operations and compromise sensitive intelligence gathering. They have requested detailed justifications for any planned reductions before action is taken.
The warning follows growing tension between the administration and intelligence leaders over personnel decisions. Pulte has not publicly responded to the Democratic letter.
Sources describe the potential cuts as unprecedented in scope for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The agency oversees 18 separate intelligence organizations.
Lawmakers emphasized that any restructuring must prioritize continuity of intelligence operations. They cited ongoing threats from foreign adversaries as a reason for caution.
The dispute highlights broader debates about the size and role of the intelligence community. Further discussions between Congress and the acting director are expected in the coming days.
