Intelligence Democrats warn Trump nominee Bill Pulte as ODNI braces for firings 

Intelligence Democrats are warning acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte against carrying out sweeping firings or improperly declassifying intelligence as Congress braces for the controversial new intelligence chief’s full first week on the job.

Pulte, who also remains the head of a federal housing agency, was tapped by Trump to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on an acting basis, an appointment that sidesteps the traditional Senate confirmation required for the role.

The acting official, who was slated to start Friday, has reportedly already asked for a list of employees at the agency.

“Given your lack of experience within the Intelligence Community, it is difficult to imagine that in such a short amount of time you have already developed fully informed views as to how to shrink ODNI without incurring risks to national security,” Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee and his counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) wrote to Pulte.

“Making significant structural changes to ODNI, to include a reduction in force, is not an appropriate course of action for anyone in an acting capacity, let alone without consultation with Congress, and you should refrain from doing so.”

President Trump has previously said he hopes Pulte will be “less shackled” because he will only be serving temporarily, and will use the job to shrink the size of the ODNI.

Politico reported Friday that Pulte directed staff to pull together a list of 300 employees to hire from the........

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