Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Sunday labeled President Trump's decision to install Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) head Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence as the "worst and most dangerous" appointment of Trump's tenure. The sharp rebuke came during an interview on CBS News's 'Face the Nation,' where Himes argued that Pulte's track record disqualifies him from overseeing the nation's intelligence apparatus.
Himes is part of a growing bipartisan chorus of lawmakers who have condemned the move, emphasizing that Pulte lacks the necessary national security credentials and has used his position at FHFA to target Trump's political adversaries. "There is no way that the intelligence community can be placed in the hands of an individual who has shown that his sole reason for being in Washington is to do the president's political laundry," Himes told host Margaret Brennan.
The Connecticut Democrat urged Trump to reconsider, saying, "The president needs to sober up." He added that among Trump's "basket of awful appointments," Pulte's elevation "is probably the worst and most dangerous." Himes's comments come amid a tense standoff over the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a critical surveillance tool set to expire on June 12. He warned that Pulte's appointment could undermine efforts to secure its extension, potentially leaving the U.S. vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
"He's also not going to like the terrorist attacks that might happen if there is no 702 collection authority," Himes said, referencing ongoing negotiations. The controversy has already spilled into the Senate, where Democrats and at least seven Republican senators blocked a motion to begin debate on extending surveillance authorities on Friday, in protest of Pulte's appointment. Himes indicated that support for FISA renewal in the House has eroded significantly among Democrats, with many citing concerns about Pulte's leadership. "At least half of those Democrats are gone," he said, "because they will say, 'Look, I wasn't very comfortable with this authority to begin with ... but with Bill Pulte, who is absolutely dedicated to abusing authorities — no, I'm not there.'"
Trump has defended the appointment, praising Pulte's potential to streamline the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Trump said, "I'd like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there." However, it remains unclear what authority Pulte would have to conduct firings at agencies like the CIA. His tenure as acting director is statutorily limited to 210 days.
Critics, including Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), have questioned Pulte's fitness for the role, with Lankford recently stating that Pulte lacks the national security credentials required for a permanent DNI. The move has also drawn comparisons to Trump's broader pattern of using regulatory maneuvers to reshape federal agencies, though the implications for intelligence operations are far more consequential.
Himes's warning echoes broader concerns that Pulte's politicization of the role could jeopardize U.S. intelligence gathering and international cooperation. As the FISA deadline looms, the standoff highlights the deepening divide over Trump's personnel choices and their impact on national security. The administration's hesitancy on other defense matters, such as Ukraine drone deals, has already raised eyebrows among experts, further complicating the intelligence community's ability to operate effectively.
