1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

June 19, 2026: Pulte has now stepped in as Acting DNI with immediate plans to fire existing employees. His additional demands risk the security of classified information. June 15, 2026: Trump has nominated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to serve as a permanent Director of National Intelligence (DNI). However, Pulte is still set to assume the role of Acting DNI on June 19th until a permanent nominee is confirmed. Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, real estate executive and Trump loyalist, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Pulte has no background in intelligence, national security, or law enforcement, and his appointment has alarmed national security experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Pulte is widely viewed as unqualified, even by Trump administration standards, yet he will now oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and serve as the president’s top intelligence adviser. In his position as housing director, Pulte repeatedly used his office to pursue unsubstantiated fraud allegations against several prominent Trump critics and perceived enemies, a move that raised concerns about the politicization of independent agencies. Since Pulte was appointed in an acting capacity, he can serve for up to 210 days without Senate confirmation while exercising significant authority over the U.S. intelligence community. Congress must demand rigorous oversight of Pulte’s actions as Acting DNI and oppose any effort to make him the permanent Director of National Intelligence.