Trump confirms early transition for Bill Pulte as acting DNI

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, June 9, that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will assume the role of acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) earlier than previously expected, a move that comes as Congress faces a looming deadline to renew key US surveillance authorities.

Trump said Pulte will begin serving as acting DNI on June 19 while retaining his current responsibilities overseeing FHFA and chairing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The arrangement is unusual because the DNI typically serves exclusively in that role while overseeing more than a dozen intelligence agencies. 

Bill Pulte's appointment draws bipartisan scrutiny

Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that, “William Pulte, who is working closely with Tulsi Gabbard, will be taking over as Acting Director of National Intelligence on Friday, June 19th.” 

Pulte had originally been expected to assume the intelligence post following the planned departure of DNI Tulsi Gabbard at the end of June. Trump's decision to move up the transition places him at the center of national intelligence oversight sooner than anticipated.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) questioned whether Pulte would be able to secure support for a permanent nomination. “Well, we don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” Thune said.

Thune later said the White House was “weighing seriously” a permanent nominee and added, “We’re encouraging it, at least I am. I think that getting some certainty and closure on that issue about who that might be will certainly play an important role in unlocking the support that we need to get FISA done.”

Several Republicans have also raised concerns about Pulte’s qualifications and his actions as FHFA director, where he has issued criminal referrals alleging mortgage fraud involving some of Trump's political opponents.

FISA renewal debate intensifies ahead of expiration deadline

The controversy surrounding Pulte’s appointment has coincided with an increasingly contentious debate over the renewal of Section 702 of FISA, which is set to expire on June 12 unless Congress acts.

Section 702 allows US intelligence agencies to collect communications involving foreign targets located outside the United States without obtaining individual warrants. Democrats have threatened to oppose any extension of the surveillance authority while Pulte remains acting DNI.

Rep Jim Himes (D-Conn), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, compared granting Pulte access to intelligence authorities to “putting a machine gun in the hands of a five year old boy.” He said, "This is probably the worst and most dangerous."

Senator Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats and has historically supported FISA authorities, said: “I can’t vote for the FISA extension as long as he’s in that job.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for the appointment to be reversed, while Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner described the move as “self-inflicted harm." 

The Senate failed last week to advance a FISA extension bill, and lawmakers are expected to revisit the issue before the surveillance authority expires.