Trump Appoints Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence

President Donald Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence on June 19, 2026, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. To facilitate the appointment, Trump unilaterally canceled the confirmation hearing for permanent nominee Jay Clayton, a move that stalled Senate GOP efforts to extend a key surveillance law. Pulte, a former head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, arrived at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence one day early with a mandate to investigate election fraud and shrink the intelligence community.

Upon taking office, Pulte requested a full employee list to assess potential mass layoffs of hundreds of staffers. His tenure began amid reports that he lacked a security clearance and had requested to take the President's Daily Brief to his home. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the appointment, arguing that Pulte lacks the national security experience required by federal statute.

In response, Senator Mark Warner, Vice-Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, began coordinating with intelligence leadership to limit Pulte's access to sensitive national security information. Because Pulte is an unconfirmed acting official, he may have fewer intelligence capabilities than his deputies. While National Security Advisor Marco Rubio could potentially request specific information for Pulte, the acting director's status limits the ability of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to partner with him as directly as with a confirmed predecessor. Senator Warner also signaled a forthcoming lawsuit challenging the legality of the appointment.