Trump appoints housing regulator as acting spy chief

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(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, giving him temporary oversight of both the nation's intelligence apparatus and more than $10 trillion in federally backed mortgage assets.

Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, his social media platform, writing that Pulte has experience managing "the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac."

Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation May 22, citing her husband Abraham's diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard had planned to remain in the position through June 30.

Because the appointment is temporary, Pulte can serve as acting DNI without Senate confirmation. He was confirmed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote in March 2025 to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.

As acting DNI, Pulte will oversee an $81.9 billion intelligence budget and coordinate the work of 18 intelligence agencies while continuing to oversee housing-finance entities that collectively hold more than $10 trillion in assets backed by U.S. taxpayers.

Pulte succeeds Aaron Lukas, who had been serving as acting DNI following Gabbard's departure. Lukas is a former CIA chief of station with more than two decades of intelligence-community experience and has served as chief of staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as acting senior director at the National Security Council.

Pulte's background is primarily in housing and finance. A graduate of Northwestern University, he founded Pulte Capital Partners LLC in 2011 and previously served on the board of Pulte Homes, a Fortune 500 homebuilder.

Federal law states that a nominee for director of national intelligence must possess "extensive national security expertise." The statute does not explicitly address whether that requirement applies to acting appointments. Another provision prohibits the DNI from simultaneously serving as the head of an intelligence-community element but does not address concurrent service leading an unrelated federal agency.

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said Pulte lacks the national-security experience contemplated by the statute.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., did not immediately respond to a request for comment.