Press Releases
Himes, Warner Warn Pulte Against Illegal or Reckless Actions at ODNI
Washington,
June 22, 2026
Washington, DC -- U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte regarding his intentions for his tenure, the protection of the ODNI workforce and safeguarding of classified materials, and his legal obligation to preserve all records of the actions he takes in an acting capacity. The lawmakers wrote, “We are concerned that your record as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency demonstrates a willingness to misuse your position, including your access to sensitive information, to pursue President Trump’s perceived political enemies and further his retributive political agenda. Given the extremely sensitive nature of intelligence, we expect that you will not declassify properly classified information that would compromise intelligence sources and methods, or weaponize the declassification process for partisan political purposes, and that any declassification effort you undertake will follow all established policies and practices, including by obtaining substantive input from career intelligence officials regarding the national security risks posed by declassification. “Additionally, we are concerned by reports that you intend to fire or place on leave hundreds of Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) officers as soon as this week. While there is room to consider responsible reductions to ODNI’s workforce, any large cuts would follow on a substantial downsizing that has already occurred in 2025 and risk jeopardizing the mission of an organization explicitly created after 9/11 to prevent any future such terrorist attack. 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. 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. “Finally, we write to remind you of your obligation to preserve all records and materials related to actions you take while serving as the Acting Director of National Intelligence, including, but not limited to, any actions regarding declassification, publication, or release of classified materials, as well as any personnel actions. Preserving federal records and safeguarding information critical to congressional oversight is a legal obligation that you and all employees of the ODNI are required to meet.[1] This includes electronic messages sent using both official and personal accounts or devices and records created using text messages, phone-based message applications, or encryption software.” The full letter is available here. |