Bill Pulte named US Director of National Intelligence

President Donald Trump has appointed 38‑year‑old Bill Pulte, a former head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and longtime executive in the mortgage‑finance sector, as the United States Director of National Intelligence. Pulte has no prior experience in the intelligence community, and his selection replaces former DNI Tulsi Gabbard.

Critics in Washington warn that the lack of intelligence background could jeopardize national security. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described Pulte as a “partisan thug,” and other Democrats raised concerns about his ability to oversee the coordination of the country’s 18 intelligence agencies. The role, which involves managing data flows, classification standards, and inter‑agency operations, is typically filled by career intelligence professionals.

Trump defended the choice by emphasizing Pulte’s loyalty and his experience handling “sensitive matters” in the housing‑finance arena, echoing the president’s pattern of appointing officials based on personal allegiance rather than sector expertise.