Keep Politics Out of Our National Security Agencies

As your constituent, I am deeply concerned by the appointment of FHFA Director Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Bypassing Senate confirmation to place someone with zero military, foreign policy, or intelligence experience over our 18 spy agencies is an unprecedented risk to public safety. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of protecting national security and the constitutional balance of power. This temporary placeholder appointment creates immediate, tangible risks to the American public: - Weakening Counterterrorism: Sudden, sweeping staff cuts targeting hubs like the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) compromise our safety. Purging seasoned professionals creates dangerous blind spots that foreign terrorists, cyber-attackers, and cartels can exploit. - Endangering Classified Intelligence: Moving highly sensitive data, including the Presidential Daily Briefing, outside of secure facilities (SCIFs) invites foreign espionage and directly endangers our military sources and human assets abroad. - Breaking Allied Trust: The U.S. relies heavily on international intelligence sharing through the Five Eyes alliance. Disregarding security protocols causes foreign allies to restrict information, leaving America blind to threats detected by our partners. - Preventing Government Weaponization: The ODNI must provide unvarnished facts to safeguard the nation. Turning intelligence tools toward domestic political targets weaponizes data against American citizens and distracts from foreign adversaries. In light of these immediate dangers, I urge you to use every legislative and oversight mechanism available to take the following explicit actions: 1. Use the power of the purse to block funding for unauthorized structural overhauls or staff cuts executed by an unconfirmed acting director. 2. Enforce strict oversight, ensuring Intelligence Committees aggressively monitor all communications and protocol compliance. 3. Fast-track the confirmation of a permanent, qualified DNI to end this temporary placeholder appointment. 4. Co-sponsor emergency legislation to close the Vacancies Act loophole, ensuring critical national security vacancies automatically fall to career intelligence professionals. Turning our nation's intelligence apparatus into a political tool places the public at risk. I am tracking this issue closely and look forward to your public leadership to protect our country from executive overreach.