How Trump's intel chief pick risks key spy tool : NPR

Key Points:

• President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence disrupted delicate congressional negotiations over renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 program, a key surveillance tool set to expire soon.
• Pulte, known primarily for his partisan attacks and lack of national security experience, has leveraged his role as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to publicly accuse political opponents of mortgage fraud, raising bipartisan concerns about his suitability for the intelligence role.
• Democrats and some Republicans expressed strong opposition to Pulte's appointment, fearing his partisan history and lack of qualifications could undermine impartial intelligence assessments and jeopardize the renewal of FISA Section 702.
• Senate leaders working on the FISA renewal indicated that without a reversal of Pulte's appointment, there may not be enough support to pass the extension, potentially forcing reliance on grandfathered authority for intelligence collection.
• Trump defended Pulte's role as acting director, highlighting the advantage of not requiring Senate confirmation and suggesting Pulte could swiftly implement agency changes, while encouraging Congress to approve a short-term FISA extension.