President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, the current Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), effective June 30. Pulte will retain his existing roles at the FHFA and as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The appointment bypasses the Senate confirmation process typically required for the Cabinet-level DNI position.
Appointment Details
President Trump announced the appointment via a post on Truth Social. The DNI position was created after the September 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the activities of U.S. intelligence agencies. Pulte will succeed Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation, citing her husband's treatment for bone cancer, effective June 30. Trump had previously indicated that Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas would serve as acting DNI after Gabbard's departure. The White House has not clarified when Pulte's tenure begins or whether Lukas will remain in his current role.
Pulte's Background and Other Roles
Bill Pulte has no prior experience in intelligence roles. He was confirmed by the Senate as Director of the FHFA in March 2025 with a 56-43 vote, including support from three Democratic senators. In his role at the FHFA, Pulte made criminal referrals against Democratic figures, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Senator Adam Schiff, actions which Democrats criticized and attempted to investigate. Pulte was also involved in a controversy over the renovation of the Federal Reserve headquarters, which President Trump suggested warranted investigation. The Justice Department later dropped a related probe into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in April. Pulte has also accused Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud; Cook has denied any wrongdoing. President Trump later attempted to fire Cook, and the Supreme Court heard arguments on the matter in January, with no ruling to date.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also serves as acting national security adviser and stepped down as acting archivist in February.
Reactions
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the appointment. In a statement, Warner said Pulte has shown a willingness to use government authority for political retribution and may shape intelligence reporting to match presidential wishes.