Trump backs Pulte intelligence role as surveillance law stalls

President Trump is moving ahead with plans to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, intensifying a bipartisan fight on Capitol Hill and putting the renewal of a major surveillance authority at risk days before it expires.

Trump announced Tuesday that Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and a political ally of the president, will take over the intelligence post on June 19. The announcement appeared to accelerate the transition from outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who had said in her resignation letter that she would step down June 30. Pulte will remain in charge of the housing agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Trump has said Pulte will serve only for a short period and will not be nominated as the permanent director of national intelligence, a position that requires Senate confirmation. The acting appointment avoids that confirmation process.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and concern from some Republicans, largely because Pulte has no national security background and because of his record at the housing agency. As FHFA director, Pulte accused several Trump adversaries of mortgage fraud, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, according to The Guardian. The case against James was dismissed, and the referrals involving Schiff and Cook have not led to criminal charges, The Guardian reported.

The backlash has collided with negotiations over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire Friday. The law allows the U.S. government to collect communications of noncitizens abroad without a warrant. National security officials have argued that it is essential for disrupting terrorist plots, espionage, international drug trafficking and cyber intrusions. Critics in both parties warn that the program can also collect information involving Americans who communicate with foreign targets.

The House passed an extension of the program with new guardrails in late April, with 42 Democrats voting in favor. The measure later stalled in the Senate amid an unrelated debate over a proposal to block a central bank digital currency. Last week, the Senate voted against advancing a Section 702 extension, with seven Republicans and nearly every Democrat voting no.

Democratic leaders now say Pulte’s appointment has undermined any path to reauthorization. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Pulte’s “record of abusing his office to attack Mr. Trump’s political enemies” and said “the timing of this announcement could not be worse.”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told PBS NewsHour that Democrats would not allow the surveillance law to be renewed if Trump installs Pulte.

“Bill Pulte is deeply unqualified to serve as acting director of national intelligence and is deeply dangerous,” Jeffries said. “He’s got no national security experience, no military experience and no law-enforcement experience.”

Jeffries added that Pulte had “clearly demonstrated a willingness to weaponize the federal government against Donald Trump’s perceived adversaries” and said Trump must withdraw the decision before talks can proceed.

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Democratic support in the House was fading. “In the basket of awful appointments he has made, this is probably the worst and most dangerous,” Himes said. “He doesn’t like to back down, but he’s also not going to like the terrorist attacks that might happen if there is no 702 collection authority.”

Some Republicans have also expressed unease. Sens. John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis have voiced disapproval of the move. Asked whether Trump should withdraw Pulte, Cornyn said: “If he wants to get 702 reauthorization passed, that sounds like the price that they’re going to demand.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that Republicans were encouraging the White House to name a permanent director of national intelligence. He called Democrats’ stance “incredibly irresponsible” but said the matter must be resolved between Democrats and the White House.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who met with Trump and senior officials Tuesday, said he believed the president was “very close” to naming a full-time director. Johnson accused Democrats of trying to “play politics with the security of the American people,” saying a bipartisan solution “was working well until just a few days ago” when Democrats objected to Trump’s interim appointment.