Trump names Bill Pulte acting intelligence director

U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, the chief of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte, who also oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will continue in these roles while leading the nation's intelligence community. This appointment replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in late May.

Pulte, 38, is described as an outspoken ally of Trump and has gained a reputation for publicly confronting the president's political adversaries. Some U.S. media outlets have characterized him as Trump's "attack dog." His tenure has been marked by public disputes, including accusations against Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly falsifying mortgage application documents. The Wall Street Journal reported an internal Fannie Mae complaint alleging Pulte improperly accessed mortgage records of James and other Democratic officials.

Further complicating his profile, Pulte has championed a mortgage fraud case against U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, which Trump used in an attempt to remove her from her position. This case is currently pending before the Supreme Court. Pulte's aggressive political actions have polarized opinions, even within Trump's circle. He has also dismissed internal ethics watchdogs investigating his allies, framing these firings as efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at Fannie Mae.

Beyond his intelligence role, Pulte has advocated for a 50-year mortgage in the U.S., a proposal that has drawn criticism from some within the MAGA movement. Reports suggest Pulte has also experienced professional and personal rifts, including a departure from his family's PulteGroup company board in 2020 and reported disagreements with individuals in Trump's inner circle. The Wall Street Journal and Politico reported an incident where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent allegedly threatened Pulte at a private club dinner.

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William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets.