Thune on Pulte pick: ‘We don’t need a weaponized’ director of national intelligence
Senate Republicans questioned whether the Federal Housing Finance Agency chief has the national security experience needed to oversee 18 intelligence agencies.
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, would serve as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard who resigned last month.
- Lawmakers and advocacy groups criticized the selection, warning against a 'weaponized' DNI given Pulte's lack of national security experience and history of pursuing criminal referrals against political opponents including New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism, stating, "We don't need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there," while Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis questioned Pulte's qualifications.
- Senator Mark Warner warned the White House prioritizes a "narrative it wants" over objective intelligence, while a permanent appointment would require a lengthy Senate confirmation process.
- Public Citizen warned that placing Pulte in this role could position him to use the nation's "massive surveillance apparatus" to threaten political enemies as the U.S. manages conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
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Another Opinion: This man should not be in charge of national intelligence
In the 20th century, Americans learned how government abuse of secrets can threaten liberty. It happened during Woodrow Wilson's presidency, the McCarthy era and J. Edgar Hoover's long reign at the FBI. After the Watergate scandal, however, Democrats and Republicans…
Pulte Draws Mixed Reactions – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
On Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, the current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as the new acting director of National Intelligence. Trump noted Pulte’s experience managing “the safety and soundness of the Markets” as his qualifications for the new role. This news follows Tulsi Gabbard’s unexpected resignation from her role as director of National Intelligence, effective June 30. Gabbard announced on X in…
Trump's choice of acting intel chief threatens fragile surveillance-powers deal
President Donald Trump’s decision to name William Pulte as acting director of national intelligence is threatening a fragile Senate deal to extend a contentious surveillance authority. On Tuesday, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., asked Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to press the White House to reverse the appointment of Pulte, who has no national-security background but does have a record of targeting T…
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