The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in the United States has announced a major restructuring plan as part of a program known as “ODNI 2.0.” This initiative includes cutting nearly half of the staff and consolidating multiple intelligence centers.
In a letter to employees, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated that “ODNI 2.0” aims to transform the ODNI into a more streamlined, agile, and sharp organization focused on integrating the intelligence community. The goal is to uphold intelligence technology standards and provide unbiased, timely intelligence to the President and decision-makers.
Officials have indicated that this reform is the largest overhaul of the ODNI since its establishment. It is expected to save over $700 million annually for American taxpayers while refocusing the agency on its core mission of integrating and overseeing the intelligence community. The ODNI was established in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
According to information released by the ODNI, since assuming the role of National Intelligence Director in February, Gabbard has already reduced the staff by approximately 500 employees, shrinking the organization by 30%. The newly announced plan will further increase the reduction to over 40%. This move is also the latest effort by the Trump administration to downsize the federal government.
A key focus of the organizational restructuring is streamlining the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC), responsible for collecting and analyzing data on foreign influence operations aimed at undermining American democracy. The ODNI stated that the National Intelligence Council and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center will now handle this task, criticizing the previous administration for using the FMIC as an excuse to suppress freedom of speech and censor political dissent.
The Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center has been deemed redundant by the ODNI, as the White House and other intelligence agencies are already engaged in similar work.
Additionally, the ODNI has integrated and reduced staff within other agencies that were deemed unnecessary or could be consolidated.
The ODNI oversees 18 different agencies within the U.S. intelligence community.
Gabbard emphasized in a statement that in the past 20 years, the ODNI has become bloated, inefficient, and plagued by abuses of power, unauthorized leaks of classified information, and the politicization of intelligence. She highlighted the need for significant reforms within the ODNI and the intelligence community to fulfill their responsibilities to the American people.