On August 20, 2025, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard unveiled a sweeping plan to restructure the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), marking the most significant overhaul of the agency since its creation in the wake of the September 11 attacks. This ambitious initiative, dubbed "ODNI 2.0," aims to cut nearly half of the ODNI's workforce, consolidate several intelligence centers, and refocus the agency on its core mission—delivering timely, unbiased intelligence to the president and other policymakers.
According to ABC News, Gabbard's plan will see the ODNI's staff shrink from nearly 2,000 employees to about 1,300, with affected personnel receiving notices on August 20 and positions officially ending by September 23. The cuts target redundant functions and roles, with vacant positions left unfilled and staff on loan to other agencies returning to their home offices. The move is projected to save taxpayers more than $700 million annually, a figure confirmed by a fact sheet released by the ODNI and echoed by multiple senior officials during press briefings.
"Over the last 20 years, ODNI has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence," Gabbard said in a statement reported by The Hill. "Ending the weaponization of intelligence and holding bad actors accountable are essential to begin to earn the American people's trust which has long been eroded."
The restructuring will dissolve several high-profile centers, including the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC), the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center, and the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center. Their functions will be folded into the Mission Integration directorate and the National Intelligence Council. The National Counterterrorism Center, under newly confirmed director Joe Kent, will refocus on its core mission and expand into counternarcotics, reflecting what officials say is the Trump administration’s push to treat drug trafficking as a national security threat.
The FMIC, in particular, has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which accused it of justifying the suppression of free speech and making contested claims about Russian interference in the 2016 election. As reported by Nexstar Media, the ODNI accused the FMIC of "falsely alleging Putin ‘aspired’ to help President Trump win the 2016 election," a conclusion that, while disputed by the administration, was supported by a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report. Gabbard argued that monitoring foreign influence campaigns is already handled by other intelligence elements, making the FMIC redundant.
Gabbard's plan also eliminates the External Research Council and the Strategic Futures Group, both of which she accused of injecting partisan priorities into intelligence projects. "These were politically appointed partisans who brought their external biases," Gabbard wrote in a letter to staff, as cited by Axios. The Strategic Futures Group, responsible for long-term threat forecasting, was specifically accused of pushing a partisan political agenda through its Global Trends report.
In a move that has sparked controversy, Gabbard revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence officials on August 19, many of whom were associated with prior Democratic administrations. This step, reported by The Hill, has fueled concerns about politicization within the intelligence community and the motives behind the restructuring.
The National Intelligence University will be transferred to the Department of Defense's National Defense University, a realignment that Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said would "enhance the quality of our education programs" and better integrate intelligence training with defense priorities, according to documents obtained by ABC News. The ODNI will also close its Reston, Virginia campus and consolidate operations at its headquarters.
Investment in cutting-edge technology is another pillar of the overhaul. Gabbard emphasized the importance of updating analytic tradecraft to incorporate artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced data tools. Some of ODNI's technology hasn't been updated in 20 years, according to a senior official who spoke to ABC News. However, Gabbard assured staff that the integration of AI would not result in machines replacing human analysts.
The reforms have drawn a mixed response from lawmakers and intelligence experts. Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised the move as "an important step towards returning ODNI to that original size, scope, and mission. And it will help make it a stronger and more effective national security tool for President Trump." House Intelligence Chair Rick Crawford echoed this sentiment, calling the plan "an excellent first step in the right direction" and pledging to work with Gabbard to implement the reforms.
On the other side of the aisle, Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, acknowledged the need for reform but expressed deep skepticism about Gabbard's ability to lead the process. "There is broad, bipartisan agreement that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is in need of thoughtful reform. The Intelligence Authorization Act directs Director Gabbard to submit a plan to Congress outlining her proposed changes, and we will carefully review her proposals and conduct rigorous oversight to ensure any reforms strengthen, not weaken, our national security," Warner said in a statement. "But given Director Gabbard’s track record of politicizing intelligence — including her decision just yesterday to revoke security clearances from career national security officials — I have no confidence that she is the right person to carry out this weighty responsibility."
Some national security experts have also voiced concerns. Mark Zaid, a longtime national security lawyer, argued on X (formerly Twitter) that the restructuring was less about reform and more about "the installation of loyalists & getting rid of anyone who opposes the patrimonialistic/authoritarian policies of Trump, regardless of whether DEM or GOP." The cuts also implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related reductions in line with President Trump’s executive orders, as confirmed by senior ODNI officials in a briefing covered by Axios.
President Trump, who has long harbored skepticism about the ODNI's size and role, was briefed on the reforms earlier in August alongside senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to Axios, Trump and Gabbard have even discussed the possibility of shuttering the ODNI entirely, though Gabbard reportedly concluded the office still serves an important function for the intelligence community.
In her closing note to staff, Gabbard struck a tone of resolve and unity. "We are here to serve a purpose greater than ourselves. I hope you will join me in embracing this opportunity for a new beginning with discipline and resolve—owning our mission and charging ahead together."
As the dust settles on these dramatic changes, the future of ODNI—and the broader U.S. intelligence community—remains in flux. Supporters see the reforms as a much-needed course correction, while critics warn of the risks of politicization and diminished oversight. What is certain is that the landscape of American intelligence will look very different come October.
