President Donald Trump said Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence while remaining in his current housing finance roles.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will serve as acting director of national intelligence following the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.
Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, saying Pulte will temporarily take over the intelligence post while continuing to serve as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Pulte is currently responsible for oversight of major parts of the U.S. mortgage finance system, including the safety and soundness of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump said Pulte’s work in that role demonstrated experience with sensitive national matters and large-scale financial responsibility.
Pulte “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 said.
The acting appointment follows Gabbard’s resignation last month after she disclosed her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
Pulte would need Senate confirmation if Trump formally nominated him to serve as director of national intelligence on a permanent basis.
Although Pulte’s current government work centers on housing finance and mortgage market stability, he has also become a prominent public defender of Trump’s agenda. He has used his platform to criticize some of the president’s political opponents, including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom Trump has faulted for not cutting benchmark interest rates as aggressively as the president wanted.
Pulte has also traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One during trips to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s home and club in Palm Beach, Florida.
It remains unclear what national security experience Pulte brings to the intelligence role. His temporary appointment places him in charge of the nation’s intelligence apparatus while he continues leading federal housing finance oversight.
Original article
Comments