President Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting director of national intelligence. The move comes days after Tulsi Gabbard announced her departure from the role.
Pulte, who has no known experience in national security, brings a background in housing finance and inherited wealth from a home construction company fortune. As head of the FHFA, which oversees federal housing lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, he has used his position to make public accusations against Trump's political opponents. Most notably, he has accused Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook has denied the allegations.
Trump announced the appointment on his Truth Social platform, stating that "William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America." Pulte will retain his position at the FHFA while taking on the acting intelligence director role.
The director of national intelligence coordinates the work of major agencies including the CIA, NSA, and FBI. The role typically requires technical expertise and security clearances, making Pulte's appointment unconventional given his lack of security background.
Senate Republicans have expressed concerns about the appointment. John Thune, the Senate majority leader, told reporters that the country does not need a "weaponized" national intelligence director. He said Pulte would face "a lengthy road ahead" if nominated for the position permanently and would need to undergo confirmation hearings. "We need professionals there," Thune said, addressing fears that Pulte might use the role to pursue Trump's political opponents based on his mortgage fraud investigations.
The Pulte family has also distanced itself from Bill Pulte in recent years. He was pushed off the board of PulteGroup in 2020 and no longer holds any official connection to the company. The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation released a statement in 2023 saying that Pulte's public communications may have created confusion and emphasizing that he does not represent the foundation.
Gabbard's tenure as intelligence director was marked by controversy. According to people briefed on internal discussions, Trump had been asking cabinet members as early as April whether he should replace her. She appeared marginalized after Trump endorsed Israel's decision to attack Iran before the United States joined by ordering bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Pulte's handling of the Cook case at the FHFA has drawn scrutiny. A former high-ranking official previously described his approach as "very bizarre."