President Donald Trump said Bill Pulte will serve only temporarily as acting director of national intelligence while the White House considers candidates with national security experience.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump is considering several possible candidates to serve as the next permanent director of national intelligence as Bill Pulte prepares to take over the office on an acting basis.
Pulte, the federal housing regulator, is scheduled to become acting DNI on June 19. Trump has said Pulte will not hold the position permanently and that the White House is reviewing candidates for a longer-term nominee.
According to Semafor, names being discussed inside and around the administration include Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.; CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark.; Cliff Sims, a national security adviser to Vice President JD Vance; and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, now a Fox News contributor.
Stefanik had previously been nominated to serve as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations before the president withdrew the nomination, saying her departure from Congress could endanger Republicans’ narrow House majority. Semafor reported that concern became less urgent after Tuesday’s passage of the GOP’s $70 billion immigration enforcement bill.
Crawford declined to comment on the speculation involving himself or Stefanik.
“I’m just doing my job,” Crawford said.
The White House referred Semafor to Trump’s Truth Social post, in which the president said Pulte would assume the acting DNI role on June 19. A Stefanik spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump also said Wednesday that he had instructed Pulte to begin downsizing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and return staff to their home agencies. The president announced the move in a Truth Social post.
“I have named William Pulte to be Acting Director of National Intelligence, who will take over on June 19th, and have asked him to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies. At the same time, I am looking for a permanent ODNI Nominee with experience in National Security,” Trump said.
The Gateway Pundit also reported on Trump’s instruction to Pulte.
Pulte’s selection as acting DNI surprised some lawmakers because of his background in housing rather than intelligence. Trump has described the role as short-term, but the interim appointment has drawn bipartisan concern in Congress.
Several Republican senators have questioned Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience, while Democrats have threatened to withhold votes from a deal to extend key government surveillance powers unless Trump names a more conventional intelligence chief.
The dispute is connected to looming deadlines for provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which are set to expire Friday. Senate leaders have warned that uncertainty over the DNI post could complicate efforts to extend the surveillance authorities.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday that he is “encouraging” the White House to move quickly on a permanent nominee. Thune said clarifying that Pulte’s role is temporary would provide “some certainty and closure” and could help secure votes for the FISA extension.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said after meeting with Trump on Tuesday that the president had been interviewing several candidates and may be close to a decision.
“I do think we’re very close to getting that done. It’s an important position and one that I think will be filled by a highly qualified person,” Johnson said.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said the White House has told lawmakers Pulte will not be the full-time nominee.
“The White House has been consistent, saying he’s not going to be the full-time nominee. We encourage them to name a full-time nominee,” Barrasso said.
Some House Republicans told Semafor they support choosing a current House member for the intelligence role, though several said doing so before the midterm elections could further narrow the GOP’s House majority.
“We can’t lose another member. Look at what’s happening right now,” said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a member of the Intelligence Committee.
Some Republicans suggested leaving Pulte or another interim leader in place until after November. Stefanik, a former senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, has drawn support from colleagues because she was already expected to leave Congress after this year.
One GOP lawmaker told Semafor that Stefanik would be “perfect” for the job and suggested Pulte could serve as a temporary bridge until she is confirmed. Another Republican said either Chaffetz or Stefanik could win Senate confirmation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continued criticizing Pulte’s selection Tuesday and called for an intelligence leader “who actually has a national security background.”
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he has not yet seen a clear path to passing a FISA extension if the DNI dispute remains unresolved.
“I’ve not seen a path yet,” Moran said.
Moran said he was taking “no position” on Pulte but was focused on whether surveillance authorities could be extended.
“I’m just trying to figure out if there’s a way to get FISA across the finish line, and I don’t know. Even talking about an extension, I don’t see there are the votes to do that either,” Moran said.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she did not see why Democrats were tying the surveillance law to the Pulte appointment.
“I don’t think that there should be a connection between the extension of FISA, which is absolutely essential, and the very legitimate questions that have been raised about this potential nominee, or even having Pulte in the acting position,” Collins said.
Trump told reporters last week that he had “five interviews” lined up for the permanent DNI role, CNBC reported.
Semafor also noted that Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., has been floated as a possible labor secretary pick, according to Politico. Moore told Semafor he was “honored to be mentioned” in the speculation.
The DNI search now places Trump’s preference for Pulte’s aggressive approach against congressional calls for a nominee with more traditional intelligence credentials and Senate confirmation prospects.
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