Senate lawmakers from both parties were blindsided by President Donald Trump’s decision to tap Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday and are questioning his qualifications for the post.
The selection seemed to come as a surprise to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as many senators said they knew nothing about the acting intelligence chief.
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“I don’t see any evidence of qualifications for that job, but I’m willing to listen,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and recently lost his primary to Trump-backed Ken Paxton.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a centrist who also sits on the panel, said she knew “nothing about” Pulte.
“I don’t know his background, whether he has any intelligence experience or a security clearance,” said Collins, who is facing a tough reelection battle in November.
Pulte is the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He began his career in real estate and private equity. He will take over for Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last month.
“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 said in announcing the appointment on Tuesday.
The director of national intelligence produces the president’s daily briefing and also oversees the 18 intelligence agencies within the federal government. Unlike Gabbard, Pulte is not a military veteran and does not appear to have worked in the national security space.
“We’ll have to learn a little bit more, but I thought he was a surprising pick,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said. “I know what he’s been doing in the housing sector. I’m not so familiar with why the president would have selected him.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, did not comment on Pulte’s qualifications.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the panel’s ranking member, said it was an insult to the intelligence community that Pulte does not have experience in the space. Warner also raised concerns that Pulte would politicize the position, given that he had referred several Democratic elected officials to the Justice Department for prosecution for mortgage fraud as head of the FHFA.
“That should be a neutral role,” Warner told the Washington Examiner. “Intel and the [director of national intelligence] specifically has been a nonpartisan role, and it’s got to stay that way.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), another member of the panel, told the Washington Examiner that Pulte was not the right person for the job long-term, given the pressing international issues facing the United States.
“Our country’s at war against Iran — right now, we’ve got a war in Europe, we’ve got problems all over the place, and the best guy you can find to be the director of national intelligence is a home builder who’s the head of Fannie Mae,” Kelly said. “I mean, come on.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILL PULTE, TRUMP’S PICK TO BE ACTING ODNI CHIEF
Pulte is only the acting intelligence chief. It remains to be seen whether Trump will nominate him or someone else for the role in a permanent capacity. The position requires Senate confirmation, the first step of which would be approval by the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Federal law requires anyone nominated to serve as director to “have extensive national security expertise.” It is unclear if Pulte’s acting capacity would qualify if Trump decides to make the appointment.
