Trump Nominates Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence Amid FISA 702 Renewal Debate

President Trump nominated Bill Pulte to serve as director of national intelligence. 8 billion anti-weaponization fund. FISA Section 702 authorities are scheduled to expire on June 12.

Senate Republicans need at least eight Democratic votes to prevent the surveillance program from lapsing. Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Monday that the choice was "the most outrageous of all" among the president's recent decisions.

Warner is pressing Senate Majority Leader John Thune to urge the White House to withdraw the nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that the timing of the announcement makes passage of a FISA extension more difficult. Renewal of the surveillance powers has already been delayed for months.

His predecessor as Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, stated that any nominee must meet the national security experience required by statute or he will not support confirmation. At a Tuesday hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent whether he had threatened to punch Pulte in the face, a claim first reported last year by journalist Rachael Bade.

Tillis said he shares the emotion and that Pulte is "not fit" to be DNI. Sen. John Cornyn said he does not see evidence of qualifications for the post but is willing to listen. Sen. Susan Collins indicated she opposes tying the nomination to the FISA extension.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Bill Pulte is "a great selection" who will serve the American people and that holding FISA renewal hostage puts national security at risk. As head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte used his position to target the president's adversaries. In the role of DNI he would oversee the Section 702 program.