Trump says he wants Pulte to "start the process" of shrinking intel office

Washington — President Trump connected Friday told the Wall Street Journal that helium wants Bill Pulte, his arguable prime to tally the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, to "start the process" of eliminating immoderate workers and shrinking the office. 

Mr. Trump told the Journal that the ODNI, which oversees the nation's 18 quality agencies, is "unnecessary" oregon "too big," and lamented holdovers from anterior administrations. The president said the ODNI "should possibly adjacent beryllium terminated."

"I'd similar to spot it smaller. I deliberation determination are a batch of radical successful determination that shouldn't beryllium there," the president told the Journal. Asked if helium is calling connected Pulte to occurrence ODNI workers, Mr. Trump said helium wants Pulte to "start the process" that tin beryllium continued by a imperishable director. 

"We've made the Department of Education overmuch smaller, and likewise, this should beryllium overmuch smaller," the president said. "And this should possibly adjacent beryllium terminated, and we'll marque that decision."

As an acting director, Pulte tin service for 210 days from erstwhile helium starts the role. He's besides continuing to tally the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 

"You're little shackled," the president told the Journal, referring to Pulte operating successful an acting role. "It benignant of gives you much power, you know, for a somewhat constricted play of time."

"Frankly, it mightiness beryllium bully for him to shingle it up earlier radical come," Mr. Trump added. 

ODNI has already undergone large restructuring nether outgoing manager of nationalist quality Tulsi Gabbard, reducing oregon reassigning unit by 40% and consolidating respective offices and analytic functions done its "ODNI 2.0" inaugural that was implemented last summer. 

The president told the Journal he's interviewing 2 radical for the imperishable post, "one from concern and 1 from the satellite of politics." He besides said Pulte is "not going to beryllium determination that long." 

On Thursday, Mr. Trump told reporters successful the Oval Office that Pulte whitethorn look into "rigged elections," an evident notation to the 2020 statesmanlike election. As FHFA director, Pulte launched owe fraud investigations into Trump foes contempt GOP concerns, demonstrating helium doesn't shy from governmental controversy.

"He's a precise astute feline and helium whitethorn find retired immoderate things astir the rigged elections, etc., etc.," the president said. "I deliberation he'd similar to bash it. I'd similar to — I deliberation helium wants to bash it precise much. Got a batch of energy. But he'll beryllium precise good."

On Thursday, the president was asked if Pulte is qualified for the quality role, fixed that helium has nary known nationalist information experience. Mr. Trump suggested Pulte is "smart" and volition prime up connected the occupation quickly. 

"I deliberation helium does, actually, due to the fact that he's smart," Mr. Trump responded. "Look, I wasn't greatly experienced successful nationalist information and I deliberation I've done a truly large occupation with it, a batch of radical would accidental that." 

The president's enactment of Pulte hasn't gone implicit good connected Capitol Hill, wherever senators connected Friday failed to pass a reauthorization of a cardinal surveillance programme nether the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Some lawmakers person said they won't enactment the hold with Pulte overseeing the country's quality agencies. 

Olivia Gazis contributed to this report.