Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) declared on Sunday that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte is unfit to hold the Director of National Intelligence post on a permanent basis, pointing to Pulte's absence of any national security background.
“He’s not qualified for the long-term position, that’s been clear on this. He has no national security background,” Lankford said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. He characterized Pulte’s role as strictly temporary, lasting “a few weeks to a month,” and explained that the interim appointment was necessitated by Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to resign as DNI to care for her husband, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
The president tapped Pulte after Gabbard announced her resignation. But the move has drawn sharp questions from lawmakers who worry about entrusting a housing finance official with access to sensitive intelligence and private citizen data. Critics note that while serving as FHFA director, Pulte leveraged mortgage records to aid President Trump’s political targeting of opponents, raising red flags about his judgment.
Lankford acknowledged that “Bill Pulte is someone the president trusts to step up for a few weeks to a month” to manage the intelligence agency, but emphasized that Trump continues interviewing other candidates for the permanent job—someone Lankford expects will have “extensive experience” in national security.
Concerns about Pulte’s qualifications extend beyond Lankford. Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have all voiced unease. On Friday, Cassidy, Collins, and Murkowski joined Democrats in supporting an amendment that would have barred Senate-confirmed officials like Pulte from simultaneously serving as acting DNI. The measure failed, but the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s pick persists.
Collins, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told The Hill, “I do not know Mr. Pulte at all. I don’t know whether he has any intelligence or military background. I don’t even know whether he has a security clearance.” Her remarks underscore the bipartisan unease as Trump pushes forward with a controversial appointment.
Meanwhile, Trump has hinted at shrinking intelligence agencies and even terminating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, fueling speculation that Pulte’s interim role could be a prelude to broader restructuring. The administration’s approach has already triggered a revolt by six GOP senators against FISA renewal, with some linking their opposition directly to the Pulte appointment.
The controversy comes at a delicate time, as the U.S. prepares to host the World Cup—a major security challenge that demands experienced intelligence leadership. Critics argue that installing a temporary director with no intelligence background risks creating vulnerabilities. With multiple Republican senators openly skeptical, the path forward for Pulte—or any permanent nominee—remains deeply uncertain.
