President Trump announced Bill Pulte, a 38-year-old FHFA administrator with no known national security background, will serve as acting Director of National Intelligence beginning June 19 and will oversee an immediate downsizing of the ODNI. Critics raise concerns that Pulte lacks the statutory experience and may not be eligible for required security clearances. Lawmakers are also warning that Pulte's political loyalty and past use of housing paperwork against perceived opponents create risks for intelligence oversight, while reauthorization of Section 702 faces uncertainty in Congress.
Trump Names Bill Pulte Acting Director Of National Intelligence, Orders Major Downsizing
Federal Housing Finance Administrator Bill Pulte has no national security experience but is known as a Trump loyalist (Reuters)
President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to appoint Bill Pulte — a 38-year-old heir to a homebuilding fortune and current Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) administrator — as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), and said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) will be pared back to a bare-minimum staff before a permanent successor is named.
Interim Appointment And Orders
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Pulte would assume the acting DNI role on June 19 and was instructed "to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office" by returning personnel to their home agencies. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said unnamed "people" have wanted the ODNI reduced and suggested the office contains "a lot of duplication."
Legal And Experience Concerns
The statute governing the DNI position expects a nominee to have extensive national security experience. At 38, Pulte has no widely reported background in intelligence or national security, and it is unclear whether he holds — or could quickly obtain — the security clearances typically required for the role. Critics say the selection appears to flout the spirit of the statutory requirements and raises legal and oversight questions.
Political Fallout And Oversight Risks
Gabbard, identified in the administration as the outgoing DNI, is stepping down to care for her husband, who is undergoing treatment for bone cancer. Observers note that during this term some DNI responsibilities were carried out by others, including former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who handled day-to-day duties traditionally within the DNI's remit.
Pulte's reputation as a staunch Trump ally and recent actions — including using housing-related government paperwork to allege mortgage fraud by individuals viewed as political opponents — have alarmed lawmakers. Critics warn that giving an inexperienced political loyalist access to sensitive intelligence could enable misuse of classified information for partisan ends.
Section 702 And Congressional Response
Senate Democrats have signaled resistance to quickly reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key surveillance authority that is due to expire at the end of the week. Trump said on Truth Social he seeks a "short-term extension" of Section 702 while a permanent DNI is vetted, but it is uncertain whether Democrats — or enough Republicans — will agree.
"He's going to be there for a short while while we pick somebody else. We're interviewing five different people, they're all very good, very different, and we'll put somebody there. But people want it downsized," Trump told reporters.
Administration officials have described Pulte's role as temporary while candidates are evaluated. Lawmakers and national security experts are watching closely for how the downsizing will be implemented and whether the interim appointment complies with legal requirements for intelligence leadership and oversight.
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