Trump Taps Bill Pulte as Acting Intelligence Chief

President Donald Trump has appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who is due to leave the position on June 30.

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Trump announced the decision on Tuesday, saying Pulte would continue to lead the FHFA while also remaining chairman of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The move places a housing finance official with no apparent intelligence background at the helm of the U.S. intelligence community, at least on an interim basis.

Dual Roles to Continue

In announcing the appointment, Trump highlighted Pulte's experience overseeing the U.S. housing finance system and managing the government-backed mortgage giants.

Trump said Pulte had handled some of the country's most sensitive financial responsibilities, pointing to his oversight of more than $10 trillion in assets tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The president also praised what he described as growth in the value of the two institutions during Pulte's tenure.

Pulte will continue serving in his existing positions while carrying out the duties of acting director of national intelligence.

Scrutiny Over Previous Investigations

Pulte is best known within the administration for initiating investigations into several figures viewed by Trump as political opponents. Those inquiries focused on allegations of mortgage fraud and potential misuse of authority.

Among those targeted were Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and former Representative Eric Swalwell. All have denied any wrongdoing.

At one point, the Department of Justice examined whether Pulte and members of his team had interfered with ongoing investigations. No allegations of wrongdoing were brought against Pulte.

Gabbard's Departure

Gabbard announced last month that she would step down from her role because of her husband's battle with bone cancer.

Following her resignation announcement, Trump praised her performance as director of national intelligence, describing her work as "incredible" and saying the administration would miss her.

The president had previously indicated that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would take over as acting DNI after Gabbard's departure.

However, Tuesday's announcement confirmed that Pulte would instead assume the position on an interim basis.

Senate Approval Needed for Permanent Role

Pulte's appointment is temporary. Should Trump decide to nominate him to serve as director of national intelligence on a permanent basis, the nomination would require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

The appointment marks an unexpected shift in leadership for the intelligence community as the administration prepares for Gabbard's departure at the end of the month.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 June 2026