Tulsi Gabbard announces plans to cut intelligence staff by half

August 21, 2025

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced plans to reduce the agency's staff by nearly 50% and cut its annual budget by $700 million as part of a major reorganization effort. Gabbard justified these cuts by claiming the agency had become "bloated and inefficient" over the past two decades and stated the changes would consolidate teams and improve the agency's ability to deliver objective intelligence. The restructuring eliminates several units including the Foreign Malign Influence Center, groups tracking weapons of mass destruction, cyber threats, and long-range forecasting, asserting these functions are already performed by other intelligence units.

Who is affected

Current and former employees of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), with staff being reduced from approximately 1,800 employees
The 37 current and former US officials having their security clearances revoked, including national security aides who served under former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama
Intelligence units that are being eliminated, including the Foreign Malign Influence Center, units tracking weapons of mass destruction, cyber threats, and global trends forecasting

What action is being taken

Gabbard is cutting the ODNI staff by almost 50% and reducing its annual budget by $700 million
The agency is being reorganized through team consolidation and elimination of several intelligence units
Security clearances are being immediately revoked for 37 current and former US officials as directed by President Trump
Gabbard is publicly criticizing Obama-era intelligence officials who concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election

Why it matters

The significant staff and budget reductions will fundamentally reshape the ODNI's operations and capabilities
Eliminating specialized intelligence units could impact how the US monitors foreign influence, weapons of mass destruction, and cyber threats
Revoking security clearances affects former officials' ability to advise successors and may impact their employment opportunities in sectors requiring clearances
The moves represent a continuation of the Trump administration's confrontational approach toward intelligence officials who reached conclusions about Russian election interference

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC