Trump names Pulte to replace Gabbard
By: Joey Garrison
and Josh Meyer
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as the new acting director of national intelligence, tapping a trusted ally with no previous experience in an intelligence role to replace Tulsi Gabbard.
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Trump announced the unusual pick of Pulte in a June 2 [2026] post on Truth Social. Trump said Pulte - as the top federal official overseeing mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - has "deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets."
..... Trump credited Pulte with expanding the reach of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the feudal government's two mortgage financial firms.
..... Gabbard, the outgoing director of national intelligence, announce din May [2026] that she is resigning her post as the nations' top intelligence official due to her husband's rare bone cancer diagnosis. Her resignation is effective June 30. [2026]
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Pulte. 38, the founder of the private equity firm Pulte Capitol Partners, is the grandson of the founder of one of the nation's largest homebuilders, Pulte Homes, which was started in Detroit in the 1950s.
..... In his new role, Pulte will oversee the U.S. intelligence community, comprised of 18 agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. He's tasked with gathering data and information security threats both domestically and globally.
..... Trump said Pulte will remain in his positions of director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fanni Mae/Freddie Mac.
..... By serving as an acting director, instead of being nominated for the full-time position, Pulte would not need Senate confirmation. Trump has not said whether he will nominate a permanent replacement to lead the nation's intelligence community.
..... In 2025, Pulte accused Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of claiming tow of her mortgages as primary residences, leaning Trump to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations.
..... Democrats criticized Trump for what they called the appointment of an unqualified political loyalist, saying the U.S. top intelligence position was created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist stacks to make sure all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies are working together to protect U.S. interests - and the American people.
..... "americna have already seen Mr. Pulte use the powers of his office at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to pursue the president's grievances and lend credibility to dubious prosecutions of President Trump's perceived political opponents," said Serrano Mark Warner, D-Virginia, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
..... In December, [2025] the Government Accountability Office, an independent investigative agency of Congress, announced it was looking into whether Pulte abused his position and government resources to accuse Trump adversaries of crimes.
..... Contributing: Reuters: Todd Spanglee, Detroit Free Press