Trump Appoints Bill Pulte Acting Director of National Intelligence, Replacing Tulsi Gabbard

President Donald Trump appointed Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who said she intended to stay through June 30 in a resignation letter.

The Washington Post reported that Pulte will replace, at least temporarily, Gabbard, and that the ODNI director oversees and coordinates 18 U.S. spy agencies while having no operational role in covert intelligence-gathering programs.

ABC News

Trump’s selection was framed by the White House spokesman Davis Ingle as a personnel choice, saying, “Bill Pulte is a great selection and he will do a great job on behalf of the American people.”

The appointment also landed as Congress prepares to vote on reauthorizing a controversial electronic surveillance program under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires in mid-June, with opponents saying it should be halted given Pulte’s record.

The Washington Post said it remains unclear how Trump chose Pulte for the acting DNI job, which originally had been awarded to Gabbard’s top deputy, former CIA officer Aaron Lukas.

Democratic lawmakers and former intelligence officials voiced alarm that Pulte’s record could lead to abuses within the traditionally nonpartisan U.S. intelligence community, with Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) warning, “There’s a lot of opportunity for mischief here.”

The Hill reported House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Pulte’s lack of security experience not only puts the country at risk but also threatens any bipartisan deal to reauthorize Section 702, calling the appointment “deeply dangerous.”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Jeffries argued that Pulte’s ascension at DNI will make it tougher for Congress to secure a FISA deal by the June 12 deadline, saying, “Bill Pulte is deeply unserious, deeply dangerous and deeply unqualified.”

In a separate warning, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said the task to reauthorize 702 will be tougher, adding, “Now, I gotta go and try to convince my Democratic colleagues and frankly some of my Republican colleagues.”

Politico described the reaction as split, quoting MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon calling it “a middle finger to the Senate. A fuck you to the Deep State,” while also citing concerns from intelligence community practitioners about a “fully weaponized” DNI.

The appointment raised questions about whether Trump will ask the Senate to confirm Pulte, with the Washington Post saying it is unclear whether Trump will nominate him for the role and noting that Republican reaction was muted.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, “We don’t need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there,” and also warned that if Pulte is to take the position permanently, “he’ll have to go through a confirmation process and hearings and everything else.”

USA Today reported that Pulte, 38, is set to oversee the U.S. intelligence community of 18 agencies, while also remaining director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Hill said the acting role does not require Senate confirmation and that Trump gave no indication he intends to nominate Pulte for the formal role of director, even as Jeffries warned the appointment threatens the Section 702 reauthorization effort.

Politico added that the ODNI was founded after 9/11 to integrate intelligence across 18 agencies, and it described how the news “hijacked an afternoon Senate Intelligence Committee hearing” where Warner pressed Pulte’s qualifications.