“William Pulte, who is working closely with Tulsi Gabbard, will be taking over as Acting Director of National Intelligence on Friday, June 19th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that Pulte would remain director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The appointment would place the 38-year-old housing regulator in charge of coordinating the work of the 18 agencies that make up the US intelligence community, despite having no national security or intelligence experience.
Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who have questioned whether Pulte can oversee the US intelligence apparatus, especially when the country is at war with Iran.
Pulte has been one of Trump’s loyal allies and has used his role at the FHFA to push for investigations into some of the president’s perceived political opponents over alleged mortgage fraud, though those efforts have not resulted in criminal charges.
Under US law, an acting DNI can serve for up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, potentially allowing Pulte to remain in the position through the November midterm elections.
Job cuts
Trump told The Wall Street Journal he had asked Pulte to begin reducing the agency’s workforce.
“I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” the President said, reportedly referring to intelligence officials who served in previous Democratic administrations.
Trump told Pulte to “start the process” of firing personnel and said any eventual permanent director of national intelligence should continue those efforts.
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(Edited by : Tenzin Norzom)