'Deep state purge' begins at Tulsi Gabbard's old office as Trump's new spy chief seeks to fire hundreds

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 03:24, 23 June 2026 | Updated: 03:24, 23 June 2026 President Donald Trump's pick for acting Director of National Intelligence, Bill Pulte, has kicked off a 'deep state' purge as hundreds of jobs are on the line.  Pulte, 38, arrived to his new role a day early on Thursday and wasted no time, as the temporary director is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  Sources told CNN that - on his very first day on the job - Pulte asked for a list of every current employee in the office.  The move will see the acting director assess whether they should be fired or not, the outlet reported.  'The deep state firings have begun,' one source told the outlet.   Pulte's eager start caught everyone by surprise, including outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard, as Trump himself announced that his first day was set for Friday.  The loyal Trump appointee, with no intelligence experience, began on Thursday by meeting with lawyers and staff during his visit, sources said according to the outlet. In another briefing with the office last week, Pulte raised eyebrows after asking staff if he could bring the President's Daily Brief - a highly classified document containing intelligence on national security - home with him, one source told CNN. Bill Pulte, 38, arrived to his new role on Thursday and wasted no time, as the temporary director is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Sources said that - on his very first day - Pulte asked for a list of every current employee in the office. The move will see the acting director assess whether they should be fired or not Pulte's eager start caught everyone by surprise, including outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard, as Trump himself announced that his first day was set for Friday The new acting director also inquired about his level of security clearance and if he would have access to a government plane, the source added.  One source said it was 'a bit odd' that Pulte inquired on several occasions about his ability to have a government issued plane as well as his schedule. Pulte spends much of his time between Washington DC, Florida and Chicago, the outlet reported.  The first source also said Pulte asked for a protective security detail.  Pulte's appointment to the position came with skeptical Democrats, and even some Republicans, who were concerned he did not have the experience for the job.  Trump stressed in early June that the position was given to Pulte in a temporary fashion.  'It's not a permanent position,' he told reporters in the Oval Office on June 4.  'We're looking at, we're interviewing people right now, but it's somebody just to take it over for a little while.' When pressed by reporters on whether Pulte was the best person to lead the office, Trump continued to praise his character and suggested the new acting director might look into domestic political matters. When pressed on whether Pulte was the best person to lead the office, Trump praised his character and suggested the new acting director might look into domestic political matters 'He's very smart. He's a person who's got high integrity. He's done a phenomenal job,' Trump said, adding, 'He may find out some things about the rigged elections.' The Director of National Intelligence is responsible for overseeing the 18 agencies that comprise the US intelligence community and delivering the President's Daily Brief.  Critics have frequently warned that installing leaders without deep familiarity with global threats and intelligence gathering could jeopardize national security. Trump strongly rejected those concerns, arguing that unconventional backgrounds can yield successful results and compared Pulte's trajectory to his own entry into politics. 'I think he does actually because he's smart,' Trump said when asked if Pulte possesses the necessary national security experience. 'I wasn't greatly experienced in national security, and I think I've done a really great job with it. I ended 8 wars. It could be 10 soon.'  Trump's new intel chief has sparked immediate backlash with Republicans fuming at the real estate executive's chaotic style, and his colorful online history drawing renewed scrutiny.  Pulte's tenure at FHFA has drawn scrutiny, including over a short-lived 50-year mortgage idea that sparked backlash from housing and market critics.  He also enjoys a close relationship with Trump, is a frequent flyer on Air Force One and often spotted at the President's resorts and golf courses. Pulte's tenure at FHFA has drawn scrutiny, including over a short-lived 50-year mortgage idea that sparked backlash from housing and market critics His appointment to act as the top intelligence official in the US baffled some of Trump's closest allies due to his lack of experience in the field.    'The president has so many smart people at the White House, trusted people, that he could be listening to,' a former Trump administration official told Politico. 'And he listens to Pulte, who just continually f***s things up.'  Following pressure over the backlash to Pulte's appointment, Trump said on Truth Social: '[I] have asked him to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies.' The president also told reporters that Pulte will be there for a 'short while.'   'We're interviewing five different people, they're all very good, very different, and we'll put somebody there, but people want it downsized,' he said. The change in tone from Trump comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson met with him in the Oval Office, pressing him to consider a different nominee in a bid to ease the Democratic opposition threatening FISA's renewal. In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that FISA is important to the administration, the military and keeping Americans safe 'especially during the World Cup and America250 Celebrations.' 'If nothing is done, this important Law will expire this week. I am asking Congress to send me a short-term extension of FISA to provide time for the selection and confirmation of a permanent Head of the Agency,' he said.  Before his FHFA nomination, Pulte had achieved online fame as a meme-stock influencer and video resurfaced showing the appointee receiving a penis-shaped award at an investing event in Florida in 2023 House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Trump in the Oval Office pressing him to consider a different nominee in a bid to ease the Democratic opposition threatening FISA's renewal Earlier reporting claimed their meeting 'didn't go very well,' with Trump pushing back on Johnson's suggestion that he needed to placate Democrats, according to Politico. As for Johnson, he told reporters the briefing with the President went well but wouldn't go into specifics, before criticizing Democrats for holding FISA powers 'hostage.' Intelligence officials consider FISA one of their most valuable tools for tracking foreign threats, and warn that a lapse would leave agencies in the dark on terrorist networks, spies and cyber adversaries.  Sources tell the Daily Mail that several top advisors vehemently doubted the decision-making, panicking over Pulte's absolute lack of intelligence or national security credentials. Before his FHFA nomination, Pulte had achieved online fame as a meme-stock influencer and video resurfaced showing the appointee receiving a penis-shaped award at an investing event in Florida in 2023. He has also been one of Trump's most loyal senior officials during the President's second term.  A defiant Trump fought back aggressively against the internal dissent, only softening his stance now.  Gabbard announced in May that she would be resigning from Trump's cabinet due to her husband's rare bone cancer.  Pulte is replacing Tulsi Gabbard who resigned last month due to her husband's rare bone cancer  Trump elevated Pulte, a longtime aide and current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as her replacement.  The President, however, does not plan to formally nominate Pulte, who will instead serve on an acting basis.  Installing him temporarily lets the White House sidestep congressional scrutiny, since an acting appointment does not require Senate confirmation.  'You're less shackled,' Trump said when discussing Pulte's status. 'It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.' Trump added that he plans for Pulte to purge the intelligence community of holdovers from the Obama and Biden administrations. The President told Pulte that the 18 agencies that he now oversees are 'unnecessary and/or too big.'  Trump told the Wall Street Journal: 'I'd like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there.'  The Daily Mail reached out to The White House for comment.   No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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