Trump Appoints 38-Year-Old Housing Regulator With No Intelligence Experience as Acting DNI on Temporary Basis

President Donald Trump announced that Bill Pulte would serve as acting director of national intelligence. The White House stated that Pulte will take over the role on June 19. Pulte, 38, is Trump’s top housing regulator.

Trump suggested last week that Pulte would hold the acting position short-term and told reporters he has five interviews lined up for a permanent director of national intelligence. Rep. , remains a name in the mix for the permanent post.

Trump previously pulled her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations because her departure would have jeopardized Republicans’ slim House majority. Michael Ellis, deputy director of the CIA, and Rep. , House Intelligence chair, have also been floated as contenders.

Crawford said “I’m just doing my job” when asked about the speculation. Cliff Sims, a national security adviser to Vice President JD Vance, and former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz are additional names under discussion.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday afternoon he is “encouraging” the White House to move quickly on a permanent selection. He added that clarifying Pulte’s limited tenure would give “some certainty and closure” and help unlock Democratic votes to extend Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act provisions.

Speaker Mike Johnson met with Trump on Tuesday morning and told reporters the president had been interviewing several candidates.

Johnson said, “I do think we’re very close to getting that done. ” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said Tuesday that “the White House has been consistent, saying he’s not going to be the full-time nominee. ” The GOP’s $70 billion immigration enforcement bill passed on Tuesday.

Key provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expire on Friday. Sen. Susan Collins said she sees no reason to link Pulte’s nomination to the FISA extension. “I don’t think that there should be a connection between the extension of FISA, which is absolutely essential, and the very legitimate questions that have been raised about this potential nominee, or even having Pulte in the acting position,” Collins said.

Sen. ” Moran said he is taking “no position” on Pulte and is focused on whether votes exist to pass FISA. ” House GOP lawmakers told Semafor they largely support appointing one of their own to the intelligence post but not until after the midterm elections.

Rep. Austin Scott said, “We can’t lose another member.