U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who announced plans to step down from the role at the end of June.
The appointment was announced Tuesday through Trump’s Truth Social platform, where the president praised Pulte’s leadership experience and management of major financial institutions under federal oversight.
Trump highlighted Pulte’s role as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, noting that he oversees the safety and stability of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which together support trillions of dollars in the U.S. housing market.
According to Trump, Pulte will continue serving as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while simultaneously acting as the nation’s top intelligence official.
Senate Confirmation Temporarily Avoided
The Director of National Intelligence is a Cabinet-level position that ordinarily requires Senate confirmation. By appointing Pulte in an acting capacity, Trump can temporarily bypass the confirmation process while deciding whether to nominate him permanently.
The White House has not indicated whether Pulte will become the administration’s long-term choice for the position.
Pulte has led the Federal Housing Finance Agency since March 2025 after securing Senate confirmation in a 56-43 vote. His nomination received bipartisan support, with Democratic Senators Angela Alsobrooks, Ruben Gallego, and Elissa Slotkin joining Republicans in backing his appointment.
Controversial Investigations
During his tenure at the housing agency, Pulte has drawn national attention for pursuing allegations against several prominent Democratic figures.
In March, he referred allegations of insurance fraud involving Letitia James to federal authorities. James has denied wrongdoing, and her attorney dismissed the claims as baseless.
Pulte later submitted a criminal referral involving mortgage fraud allegations against California Senator Adam Schiff. Schiff denied the accusations, and the investigation reportedly failed to gain momentum.
His actions have made him a frequent target of criticism from Democrats, who accuse him of using his office to pursue politically motivated investigations aligned with Trump’s grievances against perceived political opponents.
Democratic lawmakers have also sought scrutiny of Pulte’s conduct. In 2025, House Democrats requested an inspector general review related to allegations he made against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, accusations she strongly denied.
Federal Reserve Controversy
Pulte also emerged as a central figure in disputes surrounding renovations at the headquarters of the Federal Reserve.
Trump and several allies questioned spending and management practices associated with the project and called for investigations into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
However, two separate reviews conducted by the Federal Reserve’s independent inspector general found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Pulte was among a small group of senior Trump allies who accompanied the president during a widely publicized visit to the renovation site.
Although the Justice Department eventually dropped its investigation into Powell in April, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicated that future inquiries could still be considered if new evidence emerges.
Intelligence Community Leadership Transition
Pulte’s appointment marks a significant transition for the U.S. intelligence community. As acting DNI, he will oversee coordination among the nation’s intelligence agencies and serve as the president’s principal intelligence adviser.
The move also places a figure with a background in housing finance and regulatory oversight into one of the government’s most sensitive national security positions.
Questions remain about whether Trump intends to nominate Pulte permanently or use the acting appointment while considering other candidates for the role following Gabbard’s departure.
For now, Pulte assumes responsibility for overseeing the U.S. intelligence apparatus while continuing to manage key federal housing institutions, making him one of the few administration officials simultaneously holding major responsibilities in both national security and economic policy.
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