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President Donald Trump on Tuesday appointed Bill Pulte, a close ally with no intelligence background, to serve as acting director of national intelligence. The appointment places him atop the nation’s intelligence apparatus as the United States remains embroiled in conflict with Iran and diplomatic efforts to end the fighting remain stalled.
Bill Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), will oversee the country’s 18 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency, while also serving as the president’s principal intelligence adviser.
Trump announced the move in a social media post, saying Pulte would retain his positions as FHFA director and chairman of government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
“Bill has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump wrote, citing the growth of the agencies’ portfolios during Pulte’s tenure.
The appointment further consolidates responsibilities among a small group of Trump loyalists. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also serves as national security adviser, while Sean Duffy has previously held multiple administration roles. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche simultaneously serves as acting librarian of Congress.
The director of national intelligence position was created following the September 11 attacks to coordinate intelligence gathering and analysis across federal agencies. While the role normally requires Senate confirmation, Trump’s decision to appoint Pulte in an acting capacity allows him to bypass that process temporarily.
It remains unclear whether Pulte will be nominated to hold the position permanently.
The move immediately drew criticism from Democrats. Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Pulte lacked the qualifications necessary for the job and argued he was selected because the White House believed he would advance its preferred narrative.
“That is how intelligence becomes politicized, how inconvenient facts disappear, and how Americans are left more vulnerable to a terrorist attack,” Warner said in a statement.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he had only recently learned of the appointment and was seeking more information about the administration’s plans for the position.
“If he’s somebody that wants that position permanently, he’s got, as you all know, a lengthy road ahead of him,” Thune said.
Pulte succeeds Tulsi Gabbard, who announced she would step down later this month following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
Gabbard maintained a relatively low profile during the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began in February. At congressional hearings, she declined to publicly assess whether Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, saying her responsibility was to provide intelligence assessments rather than policy recommendations.
According to multiple people familiar with the situation, Gabbard never became part of Trump’s inner circle and at times clashed with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who maintained a closer relationship with the president.
Before Pulte’s appointment, Gabbard’s deputy, Aaron Lukas, had been designated to serve as acting intelligence chief. Lukas previously spent years as a CIA officer and was viewed as an experienced intelligence professional.
Pulte was confirmed by the Senate to lead the FHFA in March 2025, receiving support from three Democrats: Angela Alsobrooks, Ruben Gallego and Elissa Slotkin.
Since taking over the housing agency, Pulte has repeatedly targeted figures viewed as political opponents of Trump. He issued criminal referrals involving New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, all of whom denied wrongdoing.
He also played a prominent role in controversy surrounding renovations at the Federal Reserve headquarters, backing administration concerns about project costs and management. Multiple reviews by the Federal Reserve’s inspector general, however, found no evidence of misconduct.
The appointment places Pulte at the center of U.S. intelligence operations during a period of heightened military tensions in the Middle East and ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. Whether Trump intends to make the appointment permanent is expected to become a major question for lawmakers when Congress returns to Washington.
