Trump Names Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, giving him oversight of U.S. intelligence agencies.
- Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down to care for her husband battling cancer.
- Pulte, who leads the federal housing finance agency, lacks experience in intelligence, defense, or national security but is known for advocating investigations into Trump's political opponents.
- The director of national intelligence oversees 18 intelligence agencies and supervises the President’s Daily Brief, a key intelligence document for policymakers.
- The appointment faced immediate criticism from Democrats and some senior Republicans, who questioned Pulte’s qualifications and warned against politicizing the intelligence office.