U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered Bill Pulte, recently named acting Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), to begin cutting staff as soon as he assumes the role on June 19. The directive came in a Truth Social post on June 3.
“I have designated William Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence, who will take office on June 19, and have asked him to immediately reduce staff and return personnel to their home agencies,” Trump wrote.
Pulte, 38, currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). He is a businessman in construction and private investment with no background in intelligence or military service. Critics view him as a Trump loyalist who has attacked the president’s detractors.
The appointment has drawn opposition from both parties, particularly Democrats. Senator Mark Warner, a key member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called Pulte “entirely unqualified.” Many lawmakers worry Pulte could use intelligence powers to prosecute Trump’s political opponents.
In his FHFA role, Pulte has accused several figures targeted by Trump—including Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff—of mortgage fraud. Democrats argue Pulte has used his government position for political ends.
Trump said he is seeking a permanent replacement. “I am looking for a permanent ODNI candidate with national security experience,” he wrote. The temporary appointment has become a flashpoint in Congress, with Democrats refusing to extend a controversial surveillance measure until a permanent director is chosen.
The measure involves Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows intelligence agencies to collect emails, texts, and phone data without a warrant if communications are deemed related to individuals outside the U.S. The provision has divided the parties over past surveillance of American citizens.
Last week, all but one Democratic senator and seven Republicans voted against a three-year renewal of Section 702 over concerns about Pulte’s appointment. Trump urged Congress to pass a temporary extension and criticized Democrats for blocking the bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also called on the president to select a permanent intelligence chief. “We don’t need a weaponized intelligence director. We need experts here,” Thune told reporters.
Pulte will succeed former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month after her husband was diagnosed with cancer.
