Key takeaways:
- Trump said Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence while remaining FHFA director and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- Pulte was confirmed as FHFA director in March 2025 by a 56-43 Senate vote, with three Democrats supporting him.
- Pulte has sent criminal referrals alleging mortgage fraud involving Letitia James, Adam Schiff, Lisa Cook and Eric Swalwell; all four have denied wrongdoing.
President Donald Trump named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence Tuesday, putting a close ally who has pursued mortgage fraud allegations against several of Trump’s political opponents in charge of the nation’s intelligence office on a temporary basis.
Pulte will succeed Tulsi Gabbard, who has said she will step down at the end of June. Trump announced the move on Truth Social and said Pulte will keep his other roles while leading the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, remaining director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
“William has deep 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, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago,” Trump wrote. “During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte!”
The director of national intelligence is a Cabinet-level position that requires Senate confirmation for a permanent appointment. Naming Pulte acting director allows Trump to fill the post for now without that process. CBS News reported that acting officials may serve for 210 days from the start of a vacancy. Trump has not said whether he will nominate Pulte or someone else for the permanent job.
Pulte has led the Federal Housing Finance Agency since March 2025, when the Senate confirmed him 56-43. Three Democrats joined Republicans in supporting his nomination: Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Shortly after he was sworn in, CBS News reported, Pulte named himself chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
His tenure at the housing agency has drawn sharp scrutiny from Democrats. Pulte sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department alleging mortgage fraud involving New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff of California, Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook and former Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, CBS News reported. All four have denied wrongdoing.
NBC News reported that Pulte made two criminal referrals in March against James, alleging insurance fraud, several months after Trump’s Justice Department failed to prosecute her for a third time. James’ lawyer, Abbe D. Lowell, called the allegations “baseless.” CBS News reported that only the investigation into James resulted in criminal charges, and that the case was eventually dismissed.
In May 2025, Pulte sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department involving Schiff, who denied the mortgage fraud allegations. NBC News reported that the probe ultimately stalled. Trump also cited fraud allegations against Cook to justify an attempted firing, CBS News reported, and that matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
Democrats have sought investigations into Pulte’s conduct. In September 2025, House Democrats asked an inspector general to investigate him over mortgage fraud allegations he made against Cook, which she denied, NBC News reported. CBS News reported that Democrats on Capitol Hill also asked the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to examine whether Pulte “potentially misused federal authority and resources to publicly accuse prominent Democrats and President Donald Trump’s perceived political enemies of mortgage fraud.” The office confirmed in December that it was investigating but has not released findings.
In November 2025, then-Rep. Eric Swalwell sued Pulte, alleging that he used his position to “concoct fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud” against him. NBC News reported that Swalwell recently resigned from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations, which he also denied.
Gabbard announced in May that she would resign as director of national intelligence, citing her husband’s diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer, according to CBS News. About an hour before Trump announced Pulte’s appointment, Gabbard said in a video on X that she and her husband, Abraham, were headed to the hospital for his surgery.
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