Topline
Critics spanning the political spectrum blasted President Donald Trump’s new pick for national intelligence director, Bill Pulte, on Tuesday, noting he has no national security or intelligence experience and a history of weaponizing government agencies to go after Trump’s enemies.
Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, speaks to reporters at the White House on July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
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Key Facts
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told CNN “we don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” adding Pulte has a “lengthy road ahead of him” if Trump wants to make his appointment permanent through the Senate confirmation process.
Trump said Tuesday he tapped Pulte as acting director of national intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation last month, effective June 30.
Pulte will continue serving in his roles as chair of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency while heading ODNI.
In addition to Thune, lame duck Republican Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., also told reporters they had concerns about Pulte’s qualifications.
Several members of the Senate intelligence committee, which would need to approve his appointment if Trump wanted to make him director permanently, said they were baffled or outright disagreed with the choice: Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told Politico “this appointment makes no sense,” and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Pulte has “demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.