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United States (US) President Donald Trump has appointed housing official Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Trump saying Pulte will continue to oversee federal housing and mortgage policies while taking on the new role.
Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down in late May after serving in the position for several months. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Pulte and described him as someone capable of handling sensitive national matters.
“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets,” Trump wrote.
The appointment has drawn attention because Pulte has no previous national security or intelligence experience. The 38-year-old is currently the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and oversees the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Pulte is known as a strong supporter of Trump and has frequently criticised the president’s political opponents. He has publicly accused several Democratic politicians of wrongdoing and has been involved in several high-profile political disputes.
The new appointment comes after Gabbard’s departure, which followed reports of disagreements between her and the Trump administration over issues related to Iran. Despite taking on intelligence responsibilities, Pulte is expected to retain his existing housing-related positions, according to the White House.
His appointment is likely to face scrutiny due to his lack of intelligence experience and his history of political controversies.
