(CNN) Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has initiated a temporary hiring freeze at the agency he was recently appointed to oversee, according to spokesperson Amanda Schoch, who emphasized that the move was "not an effort to purge" officials for political reasons.

"Since assuming his new role on Feb. 20, Acting DNI Grenell and the ODNI leadership team have embarked on a careful review of these studies completed prior to his arrival, with an eye to implementing key recommendations," Schoch told CNN in a statement. "While the review is underway, Ambassador Grenell has asked for a temporary, short-term pause in external hiring. A similar hiring pause was implemented in 2018 as part of ODNI's first Transformation effort."

"Acting DNI Grenell has emphasized with ODNI leadership this review is not an effort to purge, as some have erroneously suggested. The goal is to make sure scarce Intelligence Community resources are used in the best way possible," Schoch added, noting that further details will be provided after the specifics of the review are finalized.

Schoch also that there have been "four studies over the past 24 months that have identified opportunities to refocus or transfer activities at ODNI to eliminate duplication of work with other agencies."

"These important findings were never fully implemented despite a thoughtful and thorough process," she said.

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