Bill Pulte, the newly appointed director of national intelligence, has selected Christina Norton as chief of staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, according to former officials familiar with the move.
Norton brings campaign and political organizing experience to one of the government's most sensitive intelligence posts. Her appointment signals how the incoming administration plans to staff key positions within the intelligence community during a period of significant transition.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversees the coordination of America's 17 intelligence agencies and serves as the principal advisor to the president on intelligence matters. The chief of staff role handles day-to-day operations and serves as a crucial liaison between the director and the broader intelligence apparatus.
Pulte's selection of Norton reflects a pattern of bringing political operatives into traditionally nonpartisan roles within the intelligence establishment. Her background in Republican election work and political strategy distinguishes her from the career intelligence professionals who have traditionally held such positions.
The appointment comes as the intelligence community faces scrutiny over its assessments and operations. Norton's hiring underscores how the Trump administration intends to reshape the intelligence establishment's leadership and priorities.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Putting a campaign operative atop the daily machinery of U.S. intelligence is bold and risky, signaling Pulte wants loyalists watching his back from day one."
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