politics
Trump Appoints FHFA Director William Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
Pulte will serve as acting DNI while continuing as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The appointment follows Tulsi Gabbard’s planned departure on June 30.
Jun 2, 9:41 AM·2m read30 sources
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President Trump appointed William J. Pulte acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday. The move fills the vacancy created by Tulsi Gabbard’s planned departure at the end of June. Trump posted the announcement on Truth Social.
He stated that Pulte would serve in the acting role while remaining director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J.
Pulte, 38, is the grandson of William J. Pulte, founder of PulteGroup, which describes itself as the nation’s third-largest homebuilder. He previously owned a construction company and private equity firm before entering federal housing oversight and was sworn in as FHFA director on March 14, 2025.
Pulte has no prior experience in national security or intelligence roles. Trump had previously indicated that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would assume the acting role after Gabbard’s exit. The White House did not immediately clarify whether Lukas would retain his current position or when Pulte’s tenure would begin.
Gabbard announced her resignation on May 22. She said she would step down after her husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer. Her last day is June 30. The director of national intelligence position was created after the Sept.
11 attacks. U.S. Intelligence Community, which is made up of 18 organizations, and as the principal intelligence adviser to the president, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council.
Acting officials may only serve 210 days before they must be confirmed by the Senate, meaning Pulte’s posting will expire in late January 2027. Pulte has pushed for criminal charges against Trump’s political enemies including California Senator Adam Schiff, New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and Fed Governor Lisa Cook.
