Trump Names Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence, Drawing Criticism as Unqualified Political Hitman

(CNA Washington, 2nd, Combined Foreign Reports) U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that he has appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte as the acting Director of National Intelligence, placing him in charge of the CIA, NSA, and other security agencies. However, Democrats criticized Pulte for having no relevant experience, calling him a mere political hitman.

According to combined reports from AFP and Reuters, the 38-year-old Pulte, while leading the relatively obscure mortgage regulatory agency, actively pursued investigations into suspected loan fraud against several of Trump's political enemies. To date, however, none of these investigations have resulted in any criminal charges.

Trump stated that Pulte will continue to serve as FHFA Director and Chairman of the Boards of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while also leading the 18 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "(Pulte) has extensive experience in handling the most sensitive matters of the United States, including maintaining the safety and soundness of the market and managing over $10 trillion in assets at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have grown significantly compared to just 12 months ago."

Pulte, who has no intelligence background, will now oversee the CIA, the nation's premier foreign intelligence agency, and the NSA, which monitors foreign communications and helps defend the U.S. against cyberattacks.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune said that if Trump decides to formally nominate Pulte for the position, he would likely face a difficult path to confirmation given the current narrow margin in the Senate.

Thune told the U.S. media outlet Semafor, "If (Pulte) is someone you want to have in the job for the long term, he has a long way to go."

Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican criticized Pulte as unqualified to lead the intelligence agencies. However, under the rules, Pulte can serve as acting Director of National Intelligence for up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, meaning his tenure could extend past the November midterm elections, where Trump's fellow Republicans are vying for control of Congress.

Senate Intelligence Committee Republican John Cornyn said, "I don't see (Pulte) having any qualifications for that job." Cornyn lost his primary election last week to a Trump-backed challenger.

Pulte is set to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who is leaving the post of Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard had served in the role since February 2025 and announced last month her plan to resign on June 30. Reuters reported that Gabbard was asked to leave by the White House, while Gabbard herself cited her husband's recent cancer diagnosis.

In his current role, Pulte has pushed for loan fraud investigations into several of Trump's long-time adversaries, including Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Senator Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden.

The case against James was recently dismissed without prejudice by a judge, no charges have been filed against Schiff, and Cook has denied the allegations. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on her case within weeks.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Pulte a "partisan hitman," saying, "Someone who can make such baseless, politically motivated, and absurd accusations against elected officials he doesn't like cannot be entrusted with protecting our national security."

Separately, Pulte is an heir to the Pulte Group, a homebuilding company founded by his grandfather in the 1950s. Pulte fell out with his family over the company's direction and left its board in 2020. AFP notes that Pulte has been a strong advocate for 50-year mortgages, a proposal that has angered many members of the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement.

U.S. media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Politico have reported that Pulte has also clashed with Trump's inner circle. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly threatened to punch Pulte at a private club dinner in 2025.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance defended Pulte's appointment as acting Director of National Intelligence, describing him on social media as a "great guy who deeply understands that the intel bureaucracy must answer to the elected leadership (and not the other way around)." (Editor: Qu Xiangping) 1150603