Workforce cuts at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence began Monday, a senior White House official told MS NOW, following plans by the office’s acting director to reduce staffing across the agency.

The source was granted anonymity to discuss internal administration planning.

In his June 10 announcement on Truth Social naming Bill Pulte as his pick to serve as acting director, President Donald Trump said he directed Pulte to “execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office” and return some personnel to their home agencies.

Pulte, who oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies in the acting role, assumed the position last week. CNN was the first to report the firings.

In a letter sent to Pulte on Monday, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner and the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Jim Himes, expressed concern over reports that hundreds of employees could be fired or placed on leave, arguing that major reductions could weaken an office created after the Sept. 11 attacks to improve intelligence coordination and guard against future national security threats.

“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,” the letter said.

“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,” it added.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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From MS Now.