Trump urges pick for top intelligence official to fire ‘a lot of people’

President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, a loyalist with no prior intelligence experience, as the acting Director of National Intelligence, succeeding Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned for personal reasons. Trump has urged Pulte to initiate significant personnel changes within the intelligence community, expressing a desire to reduce its size and influence.

This appointment has sparked bipartisan criticism, with concerns raised about Pulte's qualifications and the implications for national security, as many lawmakers fear that a shake-up could undermine the effectiveness of intelligence operations.

The decision reflects ongoing tensions regarding the management of intelligence agencies and the balance of power within the federal government, as Trump's administration continues to prioritize loyalty over experience, raising alarms about the potential risks to national security and oversight.