Acting Intelligence Chief Pulte Won’t Get the Permanent Position, Trump Says

President Donald Trump said Thursday that William Pulte, his choice for acting director of national intelligence, will not receive the permanent job, calling the housing regulator’s role temporary and noting that the administration is currently interviewing candidates for the top intelligence post, with an appointment expected soon.

“It’s an acting position,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It’s not permanent. I don’t think he’d want to be permanent.”

Trump said potential candidates are being interviewed, and a permanent replacement will be hired shortly.

“But he’s a very smart guy and he may find out some things about the rigged elections, etc., etc. I think he’d like to do it,” Trump added. “I’d like to—I think he wants to do it very much. Got a lot of energy. But he’ll be very good. Again, it’s not a permanent position. We’re looking at, we’re interviewing people right now. But it’s somebody just to take it over for a little while.”

Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was picked to step into the intelligence leadership role after Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation, which becomes effective June 30. Gabbard cited her husband’s battle with a rare form of bone cancer as her reason for leaving the position, which oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies.

Pulte’s appointment, announced via Truth Social, drew scrutiny from lawmakers across the aisle, particularly as it coincides with high-stakes debates over renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire on June 12.

Democrats have signaled stronger resistance to a “clean” renewal without added warrant protections for Americans’ data, citing Pulte’s lack of national security credentials.

Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, objected to the appointment.

Warner portrayed the choice as installing “someone who will be willing to shape intelligence around the president’s wishes” rather than an independent professional with the “extensive national security experience” needed for the post.

Some Republicans, including Sens. John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy, also expressed reservations about qualifications.

Pulte, confirmed as FHFA director in March 2025, has a background in real estate and private equity, not intelligence or foreign policy. Trump praised his appointee’s track record managing “the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets,” noting oversight of more than $10 trillion at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Public records show Pulte, grandson of PulteGroup founder William Pulte, has focused on mortgage-related issues during his tenure.

The acting role allows Pulte to retain his housing positions while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.

Gabbard spent roughly a year in the intelligence role. Her exit marks the latest in a series of high-level changes, including the firings of Attorney General Pam Bondi in April and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March.