Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte is currently leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency and is considered a close aid of Trump. He will succeed Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month.
Pulte will head the national intelligence until the US President nominates a permanent replacement. “I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence,” Trump said in his Truth Social post.
“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago. During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump added.
Notably, Trump had previously announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would take charge as acting Director of National INtelligence after Gabbard.
Who Is Pulte?
William John Pulte, also known as Bill Pulte, is an American businessman who has been serving as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since 2025. Pulte is the grandson of William J. Pulte, founder of PulteGroup, a residential home construction company.
In January 2025, Trump named Pulte as his nominee for director of the FHFA. He was confirmed by the Senate in March.
Why Did Gabbard Resign?
On May 22, Gabbard announced that she was stepping down as Director of National Intelligence to support her husband after he was diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.” Gabbard had informed Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office. She will work till June 30.
In a resignation letter posted by her on X, Gabbard thanked Trump for “the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half.”
Also Read: Iran Praises Tulsi Gabbard After Resignation From Trump Administration: ‘You Spoke Truths’
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.” She said her husband “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months” and that she needed to leave public office to support him. “At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” she said.