WASHINGTON — President Trump on Tuesday named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, elevating a housing regulator to one of the government’s most sensitive national security posts. Trump said Pulte will continue to lead the FHFA and remain chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while taking on the intelligence role.
The move follows Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to resign as DNI effective June 30 after saying she needed to care for her husband during treatment for a rare form of bone cancer. That departure had already triggered a succession question inside the administration, with earlier reporting indicating Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas was expected to serve in an acting capacity.
Instead, Trump turned to Pulte, whose national profile has centered on housing finance and political combat rather than intelligence work. Major outlets covering the appointment reported that Pulte has no known prior intelligence experience, a detail likely to intensify scrutiny as he steps into the role.
Even in an acting capacity, the post carries broad authority over the U.S. intelligence community and its coordination across agencies including the CIA and NSA. That means Pulte will move immediately from mortgage-market oversight into a job that sits at the center of national security decision-making.
Early reaction suggested the appointment could face skepticism on Capitol Hill as lawmakers assess both Pulte’s qualifications and the rationale for the choice. Just the News reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune appeared skeptical of the selection, an early sign that the pick may draw questions even from within Republican ranks.
Coverage from The Epoch Times and the New York Post also emphasized that Pulte’s role is temporary, underscoring that Trump has named an acting intelligence chief rather than a Senate-confirmed permanent successor. Still, the appointment reshapes the administration’s intelligence leadership at a moment when continuity at the top of the national security structure is already in flux.
Bibliography
- NPR — Trump appoints Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence
- CNBC — Trump picks Bill Pulte as acting intelligence director
- Reuters — Gabbard resigns as Trump’s top US intelligence official
- Fox News — EXCLUSIVE: Tulsi Gabbard resigns from Trump Cabinet
- CNBC — Tulsi Gabbard resigning as Trump’s intelligence chief
- Just the News — Thune appears skeptical of Trump pick for acting DNI
- The Epoch Times — Trump Names New Acting National Intelligence Director
- New York Post — Trump taps federal housing boss Bill Pulte to temporarily replace Tulsi Gabbard
