Bill Pulte took over oversight of the 18 US intelligence agencies in Washington last Thursday – a day earlier than planned. He is said to have immediately begun the announced layoffs, which also affect counterterrorism.
“The layoffs in the “Deep State” have begun,” CNN quotes a source. Pulte, who succeeded the resigned intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, had previously requested a list of all employees.
Trump himself stated in mid-June on his online platform Truth Social that he had “asked Pulte to carry out the immediate and necessary downsizing of the agency.” The nomination of the real estate expert sparked outrage in Congress, as he has no experience in the intelligence field.
Leading Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees warned Pulte in a letter about the risks of massive staff reductions. They emphasized that this could jeopardize the organization’s ability to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
