Trump and Tulsi Gabbard Announce Historic Spy Agency Shake-Up

Washington, D.C. - In one of the most dramatic reforms to America’s intelligence community in decades, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is preparing to cut nearly half of its staff after a directive from President Donald Trump to “streamline” operations and root out what he has long described as the “deep state.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard unveiled the plan dubbed “ODNI 2.0” in a message to employees on Wednesday, marking a seismic shift for the agency created in the aftermath of 9/11. According to the ODNI’s announcement, the reduction will trim the workforce by more than 40 percent by September 30, 2025, saving taxpayers an estimated $700 million annually.

“Every position should add value. We need a leaner, faster, more agile intelligence community that can pivot quickly to emerging threats,” one senior ODNI official told reporters.

What Changes Are Coming

• Staff will be reduced from nearly 2,000 employees to around 1,300.

• Several departments, including the Foreign Malign Influence Center, will be shut down.

• The National Intelligence University will merge with the National Defense University under the Pentagon.

• A satellite office in Reston, Virginia, will be closed.

Also Read: Hot Mic Catches Trump Saying Putin Wants to “Make a Deal for Me”

The reforms are part of Trump’s larger effort to overhaul federal agencies, with some officials hinting that similar reductions may soon spread to the CIA, FBI, and other branches of the intelligence community.

Officials say the ODNI had remained “relatively untouched” since its creation nearly 20 years ago, and that the agency’s size and structure slowed its ability to adapt to fast-changing global threats. With emerging challenges like artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare becoming top priorities, the overhaul is designed to shift focus away from legacy operations.

“DEI and outdated projects slowed us down. ODNI 2.0 allows us to sunset what doesn’t work and invest in areas that truly matter,” another senior official said.

Not everyone supports the changes. While Trump and Gabbard argue that the cuts will “empower” intelligence operations, critics worry that the reductions could limit oversight across the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies the ODNI coordinates.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has even floated cutting staff down further to as few as 650 employees. But some inside ODNI argue that would cripple the agency’s ability to operate effectively.

For now, the Trump-backed shake-up is set to move forward, marking the biggest transformation to America’s spy network since its creation in 2004.

Also Read: Elon Musk Quietly Shelves Third Party Plans - May Back J.D. Vance in 2028

Follow us on X @Dobblog1