Pulte arrives early, pushes clearance and cuts hundreds

Bill Pulte, Trump’s acting intelligence director, showed up a day early and immediately asked for a full employee list—moving staff into fear and uncertainty as he considers cutting hundreds of jobs at ODNI. His early questions also included whether he has a t

Bill Pulte arrived at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence a day early on Thursday, showing up before the schedule President Donald Trump had laid out—and staff noticed how quickly his focus turned inward.

Two sources familiar with the matter said Pulte asked for a list of every employee in the office so he could assess whether to fire them. The same sources said he is considering cutting hundreds of jobs at ODNI.

His early arrival caught people off-guard. Tulsi Gabbard, the outgoing director, was given only a brief heads up about the visit, even as Trump had said Pulte would start on Friday. During the Thursday visit, Pulte met with lawyers and staffers, the sources said.

Last week, in Pulte’s only other briefing with ODNI, he raised alarm bells among intelligence officials. One source said he asked whether he could bring the President’s Daily Brief to his house. The second source pushed back on that characterization, saying the PDB is provided electronically. Pulte also asked about his security clearance—specifically whether it was a top-secret—and whether he would have access to a government plane. even though the briefing was meant to explain ODNI’s core mission.

Pulte’s questions extended beyond the briefing itself. Another source familiar told CNN he repeatedly asked about his schedule and whether he gets his own government plane. appearing fixated on travel between DC. Florida. and Chicago. where he splits his time. “That was a bit odd,” the source said about the questions.

There was also concern, according to the first source, that Pulte asked for a protective security detail even before starting.

In Washington, the discomfort isn’t only about what Pulte asked for. It’s about what those early moves suggest—moving aggressively before the transition is even complete.

Trump has already given Pulte a mandate to further shrink the intelligence community and pursue Trump’s false claims of election fraud. Democrats—and some Republicans—on Capitol Hill have said they worry Pulte is unfit for the role and may go further than Gabbard did in embracing Trump’s grievances in a job that is supposed to be apolitical.

That concern is sharpened by Pulte’s trajectory within Trump’s orbit. Over the last year. while he was head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Pulte sent Justice Department criminal referrals over allegations of mortgage fraud against multiple Democrats who had pushed investigations into Trump. Critics now fear the 38-year-old former businessman will have an even larger platform to pursue Trump’s vendettas.

One source close to Pulte previously described the political logic behind the appointment: “This isn’t something to overthink — President Trump wanted someone in that position who is a true loyalist, who will do what he wants him to do. He has that in Bill.”

Pulte’s new job comes as the United States and Iran enter an agreement to end a four-month war in which Gabbard played an unusually marginal role for a spy chief. It also places him in a position Gabbard has used to hunt for evidence of voter fraud around the 2020 election that Trump lost. That pursuit raised concerns. according to former intelligence officials and election law experts who spoke to CNN. about crossing a line between foreign and domestic intelligence activities instituted after Watergate.

Even before Thursday, Pulte was eager to begin as acting DNI. Two sources familiar with a phone call said Pulte called Gabbard last week and told her he was taking over. Gabbard had been assured by the White House that she would remain in the post through the end of the month. and she was shocked. telling Pulte she needed to hear it from Trump himself. Later, Gabbard spoke to Trump, who asked what day would work for her to depart the office. The two settled on June 19, an exchange first reported by Axios.

On Thursday, Pulte also tried to attend Gabbard’s send-off ceremony at ODNI and asked to speak, the source familiar with the episode said.

Behind the scenes. Pulte’s rapid rise has irritated some people close to the president. according to another report of the dynamic inside Trump’s team. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has kept a tight circle around Trump. and Pulte has circumvented it through direct calls to the president. One Trump adviser told CNN that “Every weekend, every trip — he makes sure he is by the president’s side.”.

Trump has said Pulte will remain director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency while serving as acting DNI. Many intelligence professionals were left scratching their heads because the role of spy chief is not considered a part-time job.

Pulte may have more time than expected as acting DNI after disarray this week in the nomination process for Trump’s permanent pick for the role. Jay Clayton. Trump directed Clayton to skip his own confirmation on Wednesday over a bitter dispute on Capitol Hill over a lapsed surveillance law. among other issues.

When asked about Clayton’s status, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said: “I’ve never been asked to slow a nomination down before, so that’s probably a good question for the White House.”

Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton issued a rare statement of disapproval. calling it “regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today.” A senior Senate GOP aide told CNN: “There’s a lot of frustration in the conference. We want to support and advance the President’s agenda but it’s getting more difficult to do with the consistent curve balls out of left field.”.

As of Thursday, Pulte did not respond to a request for comment. CNN also requested comment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about his priorities.

GOP Sen. Mike Rounds. a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. said he doesn’t know what Pulte’s priorities will be and emphasized the goal should be getting Clayton into the job permanently as quickly as possible. “I’ve had no interaction with him for months,” Rounds said of Pulte. “I think the most important thing for us is to get Jay in as quickly as possible as the Director of National Intelligence.”.

Trump has previously suggested Pulte would focus on election fraud. telling reporters this month that Pulte “may find out some things about the rigged elections … I think he wants to do it very much.” For election officials. the statement reinforced a fear that undermining confidence in elections from the ODNI may not stop with Gabbard’s departure.

David Becker. an election law expert who is executive director of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research. said Gabbard’s record is central to the skepticism. “DNI Gabbard. whose role regarding elections is limited to foreign interference. spent 18 months and untold taxpayer dollars and resources trying to give substance to lies about the 2020 election … and found absolutely nothing. ” Becker said.

Becker said he worries Pulte was hand-picked to replace Gabbard “precisely because he too embraces the lies and conspiracy theories while ignoring the evidence.”

Bill Pulte acting director of national intelligence ODNI Tulsi Gabbard President’s Daily Brief security clearance job cuts election fraud Jay Clayton Tom Cotton John Thune