Donald Trump has urged Bill Pulte, the temporary director of national intelligence, to fire “a lot of people” overseeing US intelligence, calling the office “unnecessary and/or too big”. The president told the Wall Street Journal he wants the agency to shrink, adding that Pulte, a loyalist with no intelligence experience, is “less shackled” because his role is temporary.
The remarks came hours after seven Republican senators joined Democrats to block an extension of a key surveillance programme, highlighting bipartisan concern over Pulte’s appointment. The procedural vote on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act failed 47-52, leaving the programme set to expire next week.
Section 702 permits warrantless collection of foreign communications, but critics argue it can also sweep up domestic communications. Senate majority leader John Thune said the chamber would try again next week, accusing Democrats of a “terribly irresponsible position”. He downplayed the link to Pulte’s nomination, though Republican discontent was evident.
Thune had earlier warned against a “weaponised” intelligence director, while Democrat Mark Warner said appointing Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, amounted to “unilaterally disarming” against adversaries. Pulte has used his role to level allegations at Trump’s political opponents.
