IC Workforce & Organization — 2026-06-26

ODNI Deputy Director Pushed Out as Pulte Removes Roughly 50 Staff in First Week

BLUFPulte's gutting of ODNI's mission integration directorate without a formal nomination, which remains unlikely within 90 days, leaves IC coordination authority functionally headless during an active oversight contraction.

CBS News first reported that Will Ruger, deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, was placed on administrative leave after Pulte assumed the acting director role Friday 12. Defense One and Government Executive, citing a person familiar with the matter, additionally reported that 15 to 20 mission integration personnel detailed from other IC units were sent back to their home agencies, part of roughly 50 total career and political staff removals since Friday 12. Mission integration coordinates the 18 agencies of the U.S. intelligence community and advises the DNI on collection, analysis, and policy decisions 12. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton confirmed Wednesday that Pulte told him 45 to 50 career officers were being returned to home agencies, with a smaller number of front-office personnel departing federal service 12.

Analysis
Cotton's on-record confirmation elevates the count from anonymous sourcing: 45 to 50 career officers returned to home agencies, including 15 to 20 mission integration personnel whose departure strips the directorate coordinating collection and analysis across all 18 IC components. Pulte is unlikely to receive a formal presidential nomination within the next 90 days, so restructuring proceeds without the institutional anchor a Senate-confirmed director provides. The removals may track Gabbard's 40% workforce reduction target rather than deliberate disruption, but HPSCI testimony on IC IG authority gaps and delayed FISA 702 noncompliance records mean oversight is contracting from both directions simultaneously. Analytic confidence is moderate, resting on Clayton's unrevoked nominee status. His confirmation before further restructuring determines whether Congress retains any confirmation-based check on ODNI personnel decisions.

3 sources

ODNI deputy director pushed out amid Pulte shakeup - Defense One
Director of National Intelligence office cuts reach key coordination function - Government Executive
ODNI under Pulte fires 6 staff, sends 45 back to home agencies - CBS News