Trump Names Housing Official Bill Pulte as Acting Intelligence Chief

President Trump said Bill Pulte will take over as acting director of national intelligence on June 19 while continuing to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The president also directed Pulte to begin immediate downsizing of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence before a permanent director is named.

702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows warrantless collection of foreign communications, faces expiration at the end of Friday, June 12, unless Congress acts. The program requires 60 votes in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats.

Seven Republican senators joined Democrats last week to block even starting debate on renewal. Democrats have refused to advance any bill while Pulte remains in line for the job, citing his lack of intelligence experience and prior criminal referrals against political opponents.

Pulte currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has sent Justice Department referrals alleging mortgage fraud by three Trump critics, all of whom denied the allegations. A post-9/11 statute requires the director of national intelligence to possess extensive national security expertise.

" — House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Monday (full text) Senate majority leader John Thune said the administration is weighing naming a permanent, Senate-confirmed director. Senator John Cornyn stated he is still seeking evidence of Pulte's qualifications and that Democrats will not vote for renewal until the appointment is withdrawn.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has already authorized the program to continue until March 2027 under existing orders, according to a senior Republican aide. Some Republicans argue other FISA authorities remain available and that warnings of an immediate collection gap amount to scare tactics.

The FBI separately disclosed it holds roughly 39,650 pages of Section 702 noncompliance records but will not begin releasing them until mid-August.