Senator Questions Housing Finance Agency Director's Qualifications for Intelligence Role
A Republican senator stated that the Federal Housing Finance Agency director lacks the background needed for a permanent national intelligence position. The comments follow the director's temporary appointment after the prior intelligence chief stepped aside for family medical reasons.
The HillSen. James Lankford said the Federal Housing Finance Agency director is not qualified to serve permanently as Director of National Intelligence because the appointee has no national security experience. The senator described the assignment as a short-term interim arrangement lasting a few weeks to a month.
He said the move was made after the previous intelligence director stepped aside to care for a spouse undergoing medical treatment.
Background on the Appointment The temporary appointment grants the housing finance agency director access to citizens' private information. Lawmakers have raised questions about placing an official without intelligence or military experience in that role.
Four Republican senators have expressed concerns about the appointee's background. Three of them joined Democrats last week to support an amendment that would have prevented Senate-confirmed agency heads from serving concurrently as acting intelligence director.
The amendment did not pass. One senator on the Intelligence Committee stated last week that she does not know whether the appointee holds a security clearance or possesses any intelligence or military background.
