US President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in late May.
Pulte, 38, currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency and also oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two major institutions in the United States mortgage market.
Trump announced the appointment on Tuesday in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying Pulte would continue in his existing housing-related roles while taking up the intelligence position.
“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets,” Trump said.
Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard
Pulte’s appointment follows the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, who had served as Director of National Intelligence.
Gabbard’s tenure attracted controversy, especially after reports that she appeared to differ with Trump over his administration’s handling of the war on Iran.
Her exit created a vacancy at the top of the US intelligence structure, which Trump has now filled on an acting basis with one of his loyal political allies.
No national security background
Pulte’s appointment is expected to attract scrutiny because he has no known national security experience.
Before his appointment, he was better known for his work in housing finance and mortgage regulation than in intelligence or defence policy.
He is also known as a strong supporter of Trump and has publicly criticised some of the president’s political opponents.
Some US media reports have described him as one of Trump’s most aggressive political loyalists.
Controversies around Pulte
Pulte has accused Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.
The Wall Street Journal reported that an internal complaint at Fannie Mae alleged that Pulte improperly accessed mortgage records belonging to James and other Democratic officials.
James was indicted by a federal grand jury in October, but the case was later dismissed without prejudice by a federal judge over other issues.
Pulte has also supported a mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Trump later attempted to fire Cook, but the case is currently before the Supreme Court.
Disputes within Trump’s circle
Although Pulte is regarded as a Trump loyalist, he has reportedly clashed with some people close to the president.
US media reports said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Pulte during a private dinner in 2025.
Pulte has also faced criticism over the dismissal of internal ethics watchdogs who were investigating some of his allies.
He said the firings were part of efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies at Fannie Mae.
Housing finance record
Pulte is an heir to a home-building fortune and previously served on the board of PulteGroup before leaving in 2020.
As a housing finance official, he has supported a proposal for a 50-year mortgage in the United States.
The proposal has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some members of Trump’s MAGA base, who argue that it could worsen long-term housing affordability concerns.
Why the appointment matters
The Director of National Intelligence oversees the coordination of the United States intelligence community.
Pulte’s appointment is likely to raise questions about political loyalty, national security experience and the growing influence of Trump’s allies in sensitive government positions.
The White House has not announced how long Pulte will serve in the acting role
