Trump authorizes DNI Bill Pulte to declassify records

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has given his acting intelligence chief a broad mandate to declassify government records, stating he told Bill Pulte he could declassify "whatever you want" while serving temporarily as Director of National Intelligence.

Trump made the remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he boarded a new presidential aircraft. When asked about declassification efforts, Trump confirmed he had issued the instruction to Pulte, who is serving in an acting capacity. "Bill is there just for a fairly short period of time, but while he's there, I said, 'You can declassify whatever you want,'" Trump said. He added that he believes Pulte will act on the directive.

Pulte assumed the role of acting DNI last month following the resignation of his predecessor, Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down to care for her husband who is battling cancer. As acting director, Pulte oversees the entire U.S. intelligence community, including agencies like the CIA and NSA, and serves as the president's principal intelligence adviser.

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