President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as Acting Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, June 2.
- Pulte will remain in his roles as Director at FHFA and chairman of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What They’re Saying: The move draws condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike:
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Pulte would face a “lengthy road” to confirmation if nominated in a permanent capacity, though President Trump has indicated he does not intend to do so.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Pulte “another unqualified Trump appointee that will make our country less safe.”
- Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) criticized the appointment, saying he “see[s] no evidence of any qualifications for that job.”
In Context: Pulte’s nomiation has the potential to threaten passage of bipartisan efforts to reform and reauthorize Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a highly debated U.S. intelligence tool that allows the government to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreign targets located outside the country ahead of the June 12 expiration.
