Bill Pulte Named Acting Director of National Intelligence After Senate Tie

The Senate deadlocked 49‑49 on a measure to block President Donald Trump's nomination of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, allowing the appointment to proceed. Pulte, who heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has drawn criticism for lacking intelligence and national‑security experience. Democrats and three Republican senators opposed the move, citing concerns over politicizing the intelligence community.

Former Vice President Mike Pence questioned whether the law permits a nominee without the required background, noting statutory language that calls for a DNI with intelligence experience. Pence warned that the appointment could undermine coordination among agencies such as the CIA and FBI, which were created after 9/11 to improve inter‑agency communication. The controversy follows the resignation of former DNI Tulsi Gabbard and highlights intra‑party divisions over the administration's staffing choices for critical security roles.