Trump appointed Bill Pulte as head of intelligence

Donald Trump announced that he temporarily appointed Bill Pulte as the National Intelligence Director. The decision led to harsh criticism from the Democrats.

Scraper SystemJune 02, 2026, 07:17 PM

US President Donald Trump announced that he temporarily appointed Bill Pulte as the National Intelligence Director. Thus, Pulte was temporarily appointed to head the institution instead of Tulsi Gabbard. Pulte currently serves as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and as the chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These institutions are known for their roles in supporting the housing market. Trump announced the appointment via a statement on social media and claimed that Pulte has deep experience in managing the most sensitive issues in America. The President also emphasized that Pulte managed large-scale financial structures within Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. However, Pulte's career background is based more on housing and charitable work rather than intelligence. His biography on the FHFA website highlights his experience mainly in these areas. The role of the National Intelligence Director was created after the September 11 attacks to strengthen coordination among American intelligence agencies. Therefore, the nature of the position also brought up discussions about security and intelligence experience. Pulte recently stood out as one of the figures known for his harsh statements on behalf of the administration. Last year, he accused Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, which Cook denied. Trump later tried to remove Cook from the board. That case was heard by the Supreme Court in January, but a decision has not yet been announced. The appointment also received harsh reactions from Democrats. Mark Warner, the senior Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Trump chose someone willing to use political retaliation tools instead of a respected national security expert who could make independent decisions. Warner also expressed concern that Pulte might be ready to shape intelligence according to the president's wishes. These criticisms made the political dimension of the temporary appointment even more visible. Meanwhile, it was noted that Tulsi Gabbard announced last month that she would leave her post on June 30. Trump had stated at the time that Gabbard wanted to be with her husband, who was undergoing bone cancer treatment. There are other figures with multiple roles in the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also serves as the temporary national security advisor; Rubio had also left the temporary national archivist position in February of this year.

Trump appointed Bill Pulte as head of intelligence

Donald Trump announced that he temporarily appointed Bill Pulte as the National Intelligence Director. The decision led to harsh criticism from the Democrats.