Trump taps housing regulator turned MAGA enforcer as intelligence chief
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Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House on Jan. 9. Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
President Trump tapped Bill Pulte, his unusually prominent Federal Housing Finance Agency director, as the new acting director of national intelligence.
The big picture: Pulte will split time between overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and holding a massively important position for the country's national security — an extraordinary dynamic even against the backdrop of other officials wearing multiple hats.
- An unlikely strongman of Trump's campaign of political combat, Pulte built a MAGA name for himself laying the groundwork for accusations of fraud against multiple Trump foes.
- He also emerged as an integral figure in the president's squeeze on the Federal Reserve, backing the campaign against former Fed chair Jerome Powell.
Driving the news: Trump touted Pulte's "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" in a Tuesday post naming him as the new acting director.
- Tulsi Gabbard announced her plans to depart the administration last month.
- An undeniable Trump loyalist, Pulte has been a frequent character in head-turning headlines of Trump 2.0 and is a ominpresent figure in the president's orbit both in the White House and in Palm Beach, Axios' Marc Caputo previously reported.
Catch up quick: Pulte sent the Justice Department a string of criminal referrals against Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell.
- After the exit of a career prosecutor who reportedly resisted charges against James, House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin slammed Pulte for "shamelessly" abusing "FHFA's authority by selectively and vindictively investigating President Trump's rivals."
- Pulte has also reportedly clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
What they're saying: Even Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) wasn't rushing to defend the pick.
- Thune, asked whether Pulte could weaponize the post, told reporters Tuesday that "we don't need a weaponized DNI" and "we need professionals there."
- Thune noted Pulte would face a "lengthy road" of confirmation hearings if Trump seeks to install him permanently.
- Democrats swiftly slammed Trump's pick.
Between the lines: Trump's sudden elevation of Pulte, the scion of homebuilding royalty, amid a fragile ceasefire with Iran also hints at the way the president views the role of the intelligence chief and the weight he puts on loyalty over experience.
- Top Democrats raised flags earlier this year over Gabbard's presence at an FBI search of a Fulton County, Georgia, election office that local leaders said amounted to retaliation over Trump's 2020 election loss.
- "The Intelligence Community should be focused on foreign threats and, as you yourself have testified, when those intelligence authorities are turned inwards the results can be devastating for Americans privacy and civil liberties," Democrats Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.) and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) wrote in a January letter to Gabbard.
The bottom line: Pulte's ascension is sure to incense opponents. But it seems his attention-grabbing performance has, so far, pleased the president.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
