President Donald Trump named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday. Pulte will oversee 18 intelligence agencies including the CIA and National Security Agency while simultaneously keeping his roles at the FHFA and as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump announced the move in a social media post praising Pulte's "deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago."
The director of national intelligence position requires Senate confirmation for a permanent appointee. Naming Pulte in an acting capacity allows Trump to bypass that process for now. Acting officials may serve only 210 days before they must receive Senate confirmation.
Pulte takes over from Tulsi Gabbard who announced last month she would resign on June 30. Trump cited Gabbard's desire to be with her husband as he undergoes treatment for bone cancer. Gabbard's deputy Aaron Lukas initially was named acting director after her May 22 resignation.
Pulte has sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department against multiple Trump opponents including Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff of California and former Rep. Eric Swalwell. He accused Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook, the first Black woman on the Federal Reserve Board, has denied any wrongdoing. Trump attempted to fire Cook from the board and the Supreme Court heard arguments in that case in January.
Pulte accused James of claiming more than one property as her primary residence which she has denied. In April 2025 Pulte wrote to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche referring his accusations against her. The administration pursued claims against James multiple times including two criminal referrals in March after a federal grand jury previously rejected an indictment against her.
Pulte made similar primary residence allegations against Schiff who has denied wrongdoing. A probe into those mortgage fraud claims against Schiff ultimately stalled. The handling of that investigation was reviewed by Justice Department prosecutors and the Government Accountability Office opened an inquiry. House Democrats asked an inspector general to investigate Pulte over his allegations against Cook.
Christine Bish a Republican operative subpoenaed in the Justice Department investigation into the Schiff matter said she received a message from Pulte asking for her cellphone number in July 2025 and then a phone call from Pulte's chief of staff about the Schiff investigation.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Pulte was chosen "precisely because the White House believes he will provide the narrative it wants, not the intelligence we need." Warner stated that rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments Trump chose an official who has demonstrated eagerness to use government authorities to pursue political retribution. He added that he fears Pulte "will be willing to shape intelligence around the president's wishes regardless of the cost to the American people."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune a Republican from South Dakota told reporters "we don't need a weaponized" director of national intelligence. Thune said he had just heard about the decision and was trying to get more information about the administration's thinking. Texas Sen. John Cornyn told reporters "I don't see any evidence of his qualifications for that job but I'm willing to listen."
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin previously slammed Pulte for "shamelessly" abusing FHFA's authority by selectively and vindictively investigating President Trump's rivals.
Pulte assumes the intelligence post as the U.S. remains at war with Iran after a fresh round of peace talks stalled. He will serve as the president's principal adviser on intelligence issues and manage the daily intelligence briefing. The director of national intelligence position was created after 9/11 to help coordinate U.S. intelligence agencies.
Congress stipulated in 2004 that any individual nominated for appointment as Director of National Intelligence shall have extensive national security expertise. Pulte's biography on the FHFA site lists career experience in housing and philanthropy but none in intelligence. He is the scion of a home-building dynasty and a private equity financier.
Pulte has emerged as an integral figure in the president's squeeze on the Federal Reserve backing the campaign against former Fed chair Jerome Powell. He was one of the few top allies who attended Trump's surprise tour of the Federal Reserve headquarters renovation site alongside Powell. Two previous reviews by the Fed's independent inspector general found no wrongdoing associated with that project. The Justice Department dropped its probe into Powell in April though U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro left the door open to reopening the case.
Pulte will not be the only administration official wearing multiple hats. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also serves as acting national security adviser and in February stepped down as acting archivist of the United States. Sean Duffy serves as transportation secretary and previously served as acting administrator of NASA. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is also the acting librarian of Congress.
During Trump's first term the director of national intelligence position was filled on an acting basis for roughly nine months. Trump previously tapped Richard Grenell who had served as his ambassador to Germany to serve in the job in an acting capacity. Grenell's selection drew criticism at the time because of his lack of intelligence experience.
The Senate confirmed Pulte to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency in March 2025. Three Democrats joined Republicans in supporting his nomination: Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages that they either hold or sell as securities creating liquidity for the housing market. They are regulated by the FHFA.
He has clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Pulte's acting appointment expires in late January 2027. If he seeks the permanent position he faces a lengthy confirmation road ahead in the Senate. Democrats on the intelligence committees have questioned whether the Intelligence Community should focus on foreign threats rather than turning authorities inward which they said can prove devastating for Americans' privacy and civil liberties.
Pulte, a housing regulator without intelligence experience, will temporarily oversee the nation's spy agencies while the U.S. remains at war with Iran. The choice places someone who has spent recent months making criminal referrals against the president's perceived enemies in charge of the daily intelligence briefing that shapes national security decisions affecting every citizen's safety.
President Donald Trump named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday. Pulte will oversee 18 intelligence agencies including the CIA and National Security Agency while simultaneously keeping his roles at the FHFA and as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump announced the move in a social media post praising Pulte's "deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago."
The director of national intelligence position requires Senate confirmation for a permanent appointee. Naming Pulte in an acting capacity allows Trump to bypass that process for now. Acting officials may serve only 210 days before they must receive Senate confirmation.
Pulte takes over from Tulsi Gabbard who announced last month she would resign on June 30. Trump cited Gabbard's desire to be with her husband as he undergoes treatment for bone cancer. Gabbard's deputy Aaron Lukas initially was named acting director after her May 22 resignation.
Pulte has sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department against multiple Trump opponents including Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff of California and former Rep. Eric Swalwell. He accused Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook, the first Black woman on the Federal Reserve Board, has denied any wrongdoing. Trump attempted to fire Cook from the board and the Supreme Court heard arguments in that case in January.
Pulte accused James of claiming more than one property as her primary residence which she has denied. In April 2025 Pulte wrote to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche referring his accusations against her. The administration pursued claims against James multiple times including two criminal referrals in March after a federal grand jury previously rejected an indictment against her.
Pulte made similar primary residence allegations against Schiff who has denied wrongdoing. A probe into those mortgage fraud claims against Schiff ultimately stalled. The handling of that investigation was reviewed by Justice Department prosecutors and the Government Accountability Office opened an inquiry. House Democrats asked an inspector general to investigate Pulte over his allegations against Cook.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Pulte was chosen "precisely because the White House believes he will provide the narrative it wants, not the intelligence we need." Warner stated that rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments Trump chose an official who has demonstrated eagerness to use government authorities to pursue political retribution. He added that he fears Pulte "will be willing to shape intelligence around the president's wishes regardless of the cost to the American people."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune a Republican from South Dakota told reporters "we don't need a weaponized" director of national intelligence. Thune said he had just heard about the decision and was trying to get more information about the administration's thinking. Texas Sen. John Cornyn told reporters "I don't see any evidence of his qualifications for that job but I'm willing to listen."
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin previously slammed Pulte for "shamelessly" abusing FHFA's authority by selectively and vindictively investigating President Trump's rivals. Top Democrats raised flags earlier this year over Gabbard's presence at an FBI search of a Fulton County Georgia election office that local leaders said amounted to retaliation over Trump's 2020 election loss.
Pulte assumes the intelligence post as the U.S. remains at war with Iran after a fresh round of peace talks stalled. He will serve as the president's principal adviser on intelligence issues and manage the daily intelligence briefing. The director of national intelligence position was created after 9/11 to help coordinate U.S. intelligence agencies.
Congress stipulated in 2004 that any individual nominated for appointment as Director of National Intelligence shall have extensive national security expertise. Pulte's biography on the FHFA site lists career experience in housing and philanthropy but none in intelligence. He is the scion of a home-building dynasty and a private equity financier.
Pulte has emerged as an integral figure in the president's squeeze on the Federal Reserve backing the campaign against former Fed chair Jerome Powell. He was one of the few top allies who attended Trump's surprise tour of the Federal Reserve headquarters renovation site alongside Powell. Two previous reviews by the Fed's independent inspector general found no wrongdoing associated with that project. The Justice Department dropped its probe into Powell in April though U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro left the door open to reopening the case.
Pulte will not be the only administration official wearing multiple hats. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also serves as acting national security adviser and in February stepped down as acting archivist of the United States. Sean Duffy serves as transportation secretary and previously served as acting administrator of NASA. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is also the acting librarian of Congress.
During Trump's first term the director of national intelligence position was filled on an acting basis for roughly nine months. Trump previously tapped Richard Grenell who had served as his ambassador to Germany to serve in the job in an acting capacity. Grenell's selection drew criticism at the time because of his lack of intelligence experience.
The Senate confirmed Pulte to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency in March 2025. Three Democrats joined Republicans in supporting his nomination: Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages that they either hold or sell as securities creating liquidity for the housing market. They are regulated by the FHFA.
Pulte built a name for himself laying groundwork for accusations of fraud against multiple Trump foes. He has clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Christine Bish a Republican operative subpoenaed in the Justice Department investigation into the Schiff matter said she received a message from Pulte asking for her cellphone number in July 2025 and then a phone call from Pulte's chief of staff about the Schiff investigation.
Pulte's acting appointment expires in late January 2027. If he seeks the permanent position he faces a lengthy confirmation road ahead in the Senate. Democrats on the intelligence committees have questioned whether the Intelligence Community should focus on foreign threats rather than turning authorities inward which they said can prove devastating for Americans' privacy and civil liberties.
The selection comes as the Justice Department faces multiple lawsuits over a proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on Tuesday the administration is not moving forward with. Blanche made the comments during testimony before a House subcommittee on June 2. He told ranking Democrat Rep. Grace Meng "we're not moving forward with the fund" but declined to put that commitment in writing.
A federal judge in Virginia on Friday ordered a temporary freeze on any payments from the fund. The fund was created in exchange for Trump agreeing to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS as well as two civil claims for $230 million. Blanche pushed back on Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro characterizing an IRS addendum as blanket immunity stating it was standard practice to close past audits as part of settlements.
Americans now have a housing regulator without intelligence experience overseeing the nation's spy agencies at a time of active war abroad and deep domestic political divisions. The choice places someone who has spent recent months making criminal referrals against the president's perceived enemies in charge of the daily intelligence briefing that shapes national security decisions affecting every citizen's safety.
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