Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte speaks with reporters at the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump has tapped Bill Pulte, a housing official with no background in intelligence or national security, as acting director of national intelligence.
“William 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 wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Pulte is director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he’s been part of efforts to target Trump’s foes. He’s used federal housing records to leverage mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook.
Pulte is also chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump said he will hold all three roles for the time being.
The previous DNI, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned from the role at the end of May after months of speculation that her exit was imminent.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the 18 agencies that make up the intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The DNI is the chief intelligence adviser to the president.Trump had previously announced that Aaron Lukas, Gabard’s principal deputy director of national intelligence, would fill the acting position upon Gabbard’s exit.
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