WASHINGTON (PNN) - July 26, 2026 - Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte on Sunday evening announced that he fired more Deep State intel officials.
“Since becoming Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been smartly, and carefully, reducing the size of ODNI, re-focusing ODNI on national security, the law and the statute,” Pulte said.
“As of this evening, we just finished a fourth round of thoughtful, measured layoffs. Thank you!” Pulte said on X.
Last month Bill Pulte fired over fifty career Deep State intel officials.
“The Deep State firings have begun,” a source told CNN last month.
CBS News previously reported that Pulte fired six political intelligence staffers and sent forty-five others to their home agencies.
CNN reported that Pulte fired six political appointees chosen by former DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
“Today, I spent time with the National Counterterrorism Center team, who is doing an incredible job protecting our country under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership. The room was filled with true professionals and (Amerikan) patriots. It is a privilege to work beside them,” Pulte said last month.
President Trump previously announced his nomination of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
However, President Trump postponed Clayton’s confirmation until the Senate confirms his replacement for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
The delay in Clayton’s confirmation has allowed Pulte to carry out the mass firings.
The Senate is set to confirm Clayton early this week.