‘Americans will be less safe’: alarm as Trump picks loyalist as intelligence chief Donald Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence has sparked alarm due to Pulte’s lack of government and intelligence experience, his loyalty to Trump, and his alleged eagerness to retaliate against political opponents. Critics fear he will politicize intelligence to serve Trump’s wishes. Even some Republican senators have voiced skepticism about Pulte’s qualifications and the role’s neutrality.

• Bill Pulte, a loyalist with no national intelligence experience, has been appointed acting director of national intelligence by Donald Trump.
• Pulte previously led the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) with no prior government experience, where he was criticized for firing board members and appointing himself chair.
• He is nicknamed ‘Little Trump’ and gained access to the president through Mar-a-Lago membership and campaign donations.
• Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) stated that Trump chose an official eager to use government powers for political retribution, rather than a respected national security professional.
• Republican senators John Thune and Susan Collins, as well as James Lankford, expressed skepticism about Pulte’s qualifications and the need for a neutral intelligence role.
• Pulte previously referred Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, New York AG Letitia James, and others for alleged mortgage fraud, with allegations deemed weak.
• Eric Swalwell (D-CA) warned that Pulte would politicize and weaponize the intelligence community, making Americans less safe.
• An investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) was opened into Pulte in December.
• Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) also expressed concerns about Pulte’s qualifications and past actions.