In a surprise and controversial Tuesday announcement, former and current US President Donald Trump has tapped one of his most aggressively loyal allies, 38-year-old Bill Pulte, to serve as acting director of national intelligence — a role Pulte will hold alongside his existing positions overseeing the nation’s federal housing finance system. Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and regulates the government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will step into the intelligence role to succeed Tulsi Gabbard, whose short tenure ended with her resignation in late May. Gabbard, herself a divisive pick for the intelligence post, departed after public reports of friction between her and Trump over his hardline policy against Iran.
In an official post shared on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump defended the unconventional appointment, highlighting Pulte’s track record overseeing US housing finance markets. “William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets,” Trump wrote, confirming that Pulte would not step away from his current housing and mortgage regulatory roles while leading the US intelligence community.
Long recognized as one of Trump’s most vocal public defenders, Pulte has built a reputation as a blunt “attack dog” for the president, repeatedly targeting Trump’s political opponents across the Democratic Party with public accusations and investigations. He has openly claimed that Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James falsified information on their personal mortgage applications. According to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, an internal Fannie Mae complaint alleges Pulte improperly accessed the confidential mortgage records of James and other top Democratic officials, drawing criticism for misusing his regulatory power for political gain.
The accusation against James led to a federal grand jury indictment in October last year, though a federal judge dismissed the case without prejudice a month later over unrelated procedural issues. Pulte has also brought forward mortgage fraud claims against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, a move that prompted Trump to attempt to fire the sitting central bank official. That legal dispute remains pending before the US Supreme Court.
Beyond his attacks on political opponents, Pulte has drawn controversy for his actions inside FHFA and Fannie Mae. He has fired internal ethics watchdogs who were investigating close allies of his, framing the dismissals as a deliberate effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs within the agency. On housing policy, he has pushed a controversial proposal to introduce 50-year mortgages in the US, a plan that has sparked intense backlash even within Trump’s own pro-Trump MAGA movement.
Pulte, the heir to the PulteGroup homebuilding fortune, left the company’s board of directors in 2020 after a public falling out with his family over the future of the business. His aggressive, public approach to political combat has also alienated many insiders, even within Trump’s own inner circle. Multiple US media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and Politico have reported that in 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to physically assault Pulte during a private dinner at an exclusive club, highlighting the deep divisions within the Trump administration over Pulte’s actions. Critics have raised widespread alarm over the appointment, noting that Pulte has no prior experience in national security or intelligence work, marking a sharp break with standard practice for the top intelligence leadership role.