On June 2, Trump announced that he would be selecting Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He will serve as acting director, while remaining as Federal Housing Finance Agency director and will remain as a chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
This announcement comes after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, who was increasingly isolated from Trump. Trump initially appointed Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas to succeed Gabbard.
Pulte has no intelligence or military background. This makes it clear that Trump prefers him for loyalty, and to shape the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections. He has lied about Trump’s opponents such as Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell, accusing them of crimes they did not commit. He falsely accused New York Attorney General Letitia James of mortgage fraud, only for her case to be dismissed, eventually. He allegedly illegally accessed mortgage records via his office as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac chair. Pulte has also sought vengeance against Representative Eric Swalwell, Senator Adam Schiff, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, all of whom are notable adversaries of Trump. He has established that he is willing to persecute any critic of Trump, and abuse his power to do so. Just as Trump weaponized the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to seize ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, he may do so again to take control over November’s midterm elections via Pulte.
Democrats and Republicans alike were alarmed by Trump’s decision. Senators John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy observed that Pulte lacked the qualifications for the job. Tacitly, Senate Majority Leader John Thune claimed that Pulte would weaponize the ODNI, and that it would be difficult to confirm his nomination.
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.
Forbes
Senators Angus King and Mark Warner, both of whom are on the Senate intelligence committee, were equally concerned about the pick. Warner cautioned that Pulte, “demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution.”
On top of all of the domestic concerns that accompany Pulte’s nomination, his lack of experience stands to degrade America’s intelligence capabilities worldwide.
Giving in to bipartisan pushback against Pulte, Trump stated that he nominated United States Attorney Jay Clayton to permanently lead the ODNI, but then demanded that Clayton’s confirmation hearing be cancelled until Trump’s successor for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, is confirmed by the Senate. Trump is holding ODNI hostage to secure a judicial appointment.
