Trump names controversial housing official Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence

Washington — President Trump on Tuesday announced he's tapping housing official Bill Pulte to serve as the acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who is stepping aside at the end of the month. 

Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has been one of the most controversial members of the administration. He has sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department alleging mortgage fraud by a number of Mr. Trump's political foes, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and former Rep. Eric Swalwell. Mr. Trump cited the fraud allegations against Cook to justify her attempted firing, which is currently before the Supreme Court.

All four have denied wrongdoing, and only the investigation into James has resulted in criminal charges to date. That case was eventually dismissed.

Democrats on Capitol Hill asked the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to examine whether Pulte "potentially misused federal authority and resources to publicly accuse prominent Democrats and President Donald Trump's perceived political enemies of mortgage fraud." The office confirmed in December that it was investigating FHFA's mortgage fraud investigation procedures and any recent changes in the process. On Tuesday, a GAO spokesperson said the office expects to issue the results in "late 2026 or early 2027." 

In addition to running the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Pulte will remain director of the FHFA and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the president said in his post on Truth Social announcing the move.

"William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago," Mr. Trump wrote. "During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte!"

Acting officials may serve for 210 days from the start of a vacancy. Gabbard announced in May that she was resigning on June 30, citing her husband's diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. That timeline means Pulte will be able to serve until Jan. 26, 2027. 

The president has not indicated whether he will nominate Pulte or someone else for a permanent post. 

"The president chooses the best and most talented people to serve in his Cabinet," said White House spokesman Davis Ingle. "That is why this administration has achieved record successes for the American people. Bill Pulte is a great selection and he will do a great job on behalf of the American people." 

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was the White House briefer Tuesday, and was asked about the president's choice of Pulte. 

"I do trust the president's judgment," Oz said. "He is a very sharp and quick study of people, their emotional abilities and their ability to persevere in the face of hardship, so I have confidence in his decision."

Pulte was confirmed as director of the FHFA in March 2025 in a 56-43 vote, with three Democrats voting to approve him. 

ODNI has undergone major restructuring under Gabbard, reducing or reassigning staff by 40% and consolidating several offices and analytic functions through its "ODNI 2.0" initiative that was implemented last summer. Administration officials have said the changes were intended to streamline bloat at the agency, while critics have said the moves have weakened ODNI's institutional capacity and shifted more influence back toward standalone agencies like the CIA.

The office has also drawn scrutiny under Gabbard for a range of declassification efforts and politically charged reviews tied to past Russia-related intelligence assessments. At the same time, some longtime ODNI products and offices — including a long-range strategic forecast known as the "Global Trends" report, which had been published every four years since 1997 — appear to have been discontinued as part of the overhaul. 

The restructuring has fueled a broader debate inside the intelligence community over whether ODNI's role has been narrowed to a focus on political errands rather than serving as a major analytic center, as was intended at its founding after 9/11. Some current and former officials believe changes under Pulte could affect the handling or release of sensitive assessments, including a report related to Anomalous Health Incidents, also known as Havana Syndrome, that Gabbard was expected to make public before her departure. 

ODNI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pulte's appointment. 

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, said Pulte's selection "speaks volumes about what this president expects from the nation's top intelligence official." 

"Rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments, the president has chosen an official who has demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution," Warner said in a lengthy statement.

"The concern is not only that Mr. Pulte lacks the 'extensive national security experience' required by statute for the job, which was created after intelligence failures led to the deaths of thousands of Americans on 9/11," Warner added. "It is that he appears to have been selected precisely because the White House believes he will provide the narrative it wants, not the intelligence we need."

GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who also sits on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee and recently lost his reelection bid, told reporters, "I don't see any evidence of his qualifications for that job, but I'm willing to listen."

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who was considered for the DNI post in 2020, said in a statement, "By any objective assessment — in terms of experience, expertise, background — this appointment makes no sense."