- United States
- Fla.
- Letter
Trump Has a Bill Pulte Problem
The acting director of national intelligence appears to be legally ineligible for the job.
On this matter, the act of Congress that created the position he now holds seems unambiguous: “The Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence shall act for, and exercise the powers of” the DNI when that position is vacant, as it is now. Not “may” serve. Shall. The current principal deputy is Aaron Lukas, a career intelligence officer who is not only available to serve but has extensive national-security experience, which is another thing that the law requires. Pulte (https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/06/director-national-vengeance/687408/), an outspoken Don
ald Trump loyalist who is also the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has none.