US intel payroll cut 40% as crackdown hits deep state
Nation’s intelligence chief commits to ending inefficiency, curbing power misuse
US-(Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced a bold restructuring plan on Wednesday, pledging to slash her agency’s payroll by over 40% by the end of 2025. Her office says the move will save taxpayers nearly $700 million.
Gabbard criticised the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as “bloated, inefficient, and rife with abuse of power.” Her new initiative, branded “ODNI 2.0”, is aimed at trimming bureaucracy, removing entrenched “deep state” actors, and restoring focus to core intelligence missions.
What ODNI 2.0 Will Change
The reforms include sharp reductions in areas such as intelligence forecasting, cyber threat monitoring, biosecurity programmes, and weapons proliferation oversight.
Two divisions were singled out for misconduct:
- The Strategic Futures Group was accused of promoting political agendas instead of objective analysis.
- The Foreign Malign Influence Centre allegedly worked with the Biden administration to suppress political opposition under the banner of fighting disinformation.
Previous Cuts and Security Clearance Revocations
Since taking charge, Gabbard has already reduced ODNI’s staff by almost 30%, cutting over 500 jobs.
The New York Times also reported that she revoked the clearances of 37 intelligence officials, many tied to Russia-related investigations and election interference reports.
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Despite her reforms, critics warn the cuts could weaken national security, especially in areas like foreign interference, cyberattacks, and global threats.
Multiple official probes between 2019 and 2023 confirmed that Russia attempted to influence US elections in Trump’s favour, raising concerns that weakening oversight could open vulnerabilities.
Gabbard, 43, has long faced scrutiny for her controversial remarks and past interactions with leaders like Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad.
Still, her push aligns with Donald Trump’s agenda to shrink the federal government, which has already brought cuts to foreign aid and education.
The coming months will reveal whether Gabbard’s ODNI overhaul improves efficiency or leaves America more exposed to foreign and cyber threats.
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