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The Guardian World1 min read
Trump appoints housing official as acting director of national intelligence
TL;DR
President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Pulte is currently the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has no prior experience in intelligence.
Key points
- Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence
- Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard in this role
- Pulte has no prior experience in intelligence
- He is currently the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Pulte also chairs Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
Mentioned in this story
Bill PulteTulsi GabbardFederal Housing Finance AgencyFannie MaeFreddie Mac
Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2026. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump said Tuesday he was appointing Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard.
Pulte currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, which supports mortgage markets. His biography on the FHFA site lists career experience in housing and philanthropy, but none in intelligence.
Trump made the announcement in a social media post, listing Pulte's qualifications for the role as someone with "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."
The director of national intelligence position was created in the wake of 9/11 to help U.S. intelligence agencies better coordinate.
Pulte has been a reliable attack dog for the administration and shown a willingness to go after the president's perceived enemies.
Last year, Pulte accused Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook, the first Black woman on the board, has denied wrongdoing. Trump subsequently attempted to fire Cook from the board. The Supreme Court heard arguments in that case in January and has yet to rule.
Trump's announcement quickly drew sharp criticism from Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
"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," he said in a statement.
Q&A
Who is Bill Pulte and what is his background?
Bill Pulte is the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has a background in housing and philanthropy, with no prior experience in intelligence.
Why did Trump appoint Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence?
Trump appointed Pulte to replace Tulsi Gabbard, although the specific reasons for this choice have not been detailed.
What are the responsibilities of the director of national intelligence?
The director of national intelligence oversees the U.S. intelligence community and coordinates national security intelligence efforts.
