Trump Shrinks Intelligence
President Trump Expresses Desire to Significantly Reduce National Intelligence Office
President Trump said Thursday he wants his new acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, to shrink the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — and start firing people. "I'd like to see it smaller," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there." AP News reported the comments came just days after Trump named Pulte to the role on June 2.
The ODNI has already taken deep cuts in Trump's second term. Under former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned May 31, the office lost roughly 700 staff — dropping from about 2,000 employees to 1,300 — and shed $700 million from its annual budget, according to CBS News.
Pulte Takes Over With No Intelligence Background
Bill Pulte's previous job was running the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He has no national security experience. CNN reported that Democrats expressed outrage over the pick, and even some Republicans questioned the wisdom of gutting the intelligence community while the U.S. remains in a military standoff with Iran.
Critics called the move a "retribution campaign" against career intelligence officials. The White House framed it differently — as "right-sizing" a "bloated and politicized" bureaucracy. Trump said Pulte is "very good" and made clear he wants the process of cutting staff to begin immediately, WKRN reported.
Cuts Come During a Fragile Iran Stalemate
The timing is notable. The U.S. launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. A 14-day ceasefire established on April 7 has since dragged into a multi-month holding pattern. Pentagon spending on the conflict has reached nearly $29 billion, according to AP News.
Negotiators recently reached a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension, but Trump is holding out for unspecified changes. Iran's continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has kept global energy prices elevated. Allies and critics alike worry the intelligence shakeup leaves the U.S. with a weaker picture of what Iran might do next.
Senate Passes $70B Immigration Bill Overnight
While Trump focused on intelligence cuts, the Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill at 5:00 AM ET Thursday, with a 52-47 vote. The money goes to ICE and Border Patrol. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it a victory, The Hill reported.
Democrats tried and failed to permanently block a $1.776 billion fund that critics say could pay Trump's political allies. Thune dismissed those concerns as a "settled issue." The bill now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass, according to AJC.
Zelenskyy Calls on Putin for Direct Peace Talks
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a public letter to Putin on June 4, calling for direct negotiations in a neutral country. "We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran," Zelenskyy wrote. "Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement," Newsmax reported.
The move signals a shift in European security thinking. With Washington preoccupied by Iran, Kyiv appears to be betting it can no longer wait for U.S.-led diplomacy. If Putin agrees, it could bypass traditional NATO channels entirely — a significant step with unpredictable consequences for the alliance.
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