Trump Moves to Cut Intelligence Community Staff

US President Donald Trump has asked interim Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to begin laying off staff as part of a reorganization of the US intelligence community, according to an interview Trump gave to the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper reported that Trump privately told Pulte he considers the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees 18 federal intelligence agencies and components, to be unnecessary or too large. "I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there", the paper quoted him as saying.

Pulte is set to take over as acting head of the office after Tulsi Gabbard leaves her post on 30 June. Trump indicated on Thursday that he would not nominate Pulte for the post permanently once the interim period ends early next year.

Pulte has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republican senators over his lack of national security experience.

(reuters, bak)