Thune says White House considering replacing intelligence chief Bill Pulte
WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Tuesday that the White House is actively considering a permanent nominee to lead the nation’s intelligence community, suggesting President Donald Trump could soon announce a replacement for acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte.
Thune said he has been in contact with White House officials about the matter and indicated that discussions are underway regarding a long-term appointment.
“I have not talked to the president but I’ve been in contact with somebody over there who cares a lot about this,” Thune told reporters.
“I think they’re weighing seriously a long-term pick,” he added.
Pulte’s appointment draws bipartisan concerns
Pulte, who also serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), was tapped by Trump to serve as acting DNI despite having limited experience in intelligence or national security matters.
His appointment has drawn criticism not only from Democrats but also from several Republican senators.
Sen John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have publicly questioned whether Pulte is qualified to serve as the president’s top intelligence adviser.
The position oversees the US intelligence community and coordinates national security assessments across multiple federal agencies.
FISA extension caught in political deadlock
The debate over Pulte’s role has become entangled with a broader fight over the future of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a key intelligence-gathering authority that is scheduled to expire on Friday.
Democrats last week blocked a procedural vote to advance legislation extending the surveillance program, arguing that they could not support renewal while Pulte remained in charge of the intelligence community.
Section 702 allows US intelligence agencies to collect communications of foreign targets located outside the United States and is viewed by national security officials as a critical counterterrorism and intelligence tool.
Democrats call acting DNI ‘unqualified’
Sen Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized Pulte’s appointment and accused him of lacking the qualifications required for the role.
“Nobody needs to tell me how important 702 is, but I also know that someone who doesn’t even meet the basic qualifications of the law to be director of national intelligence shouldn’t be put in that position,” Warner said.
He described Pulte as “grossly unqualified” and raised concerns over allegations that he used access to confidential mortgage records to pursue claims against several political opponents of the administration.
Democrats have accused Pulte of improperly using sensitive information to target figures including Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
White House move could break impasse
Thune expressed hope that naming a permanent nominee with intelligence credentials could ease Democratic concerns and clear the way for Congress to renew the surveillance authority before it expires.
With the Friday deadline fast approaching, lawmakers face mounting pressure to reach an agreement that preserves intelligence-gathering capabilities while addressing concerns over leadership at the nation’s top intelligence office.
