Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) on Wednesday delivered a blistering critique of President Trump’s decision to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, arguing the appointment undermines national security and makes a terrorist attack more likely.
“The installation of a thug and a hack like Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence is maybe the most chilling and the most dangerous nomination or appointment that this president has made,” Ossoff told host Jen Psaki on MSNBC’s “The Briefing.”
Trump tapped Pulte, a former donor and current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to serve as the acting intelligence chief earlier this month. Pulte is set to assume the role Friday, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Ossoff, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stressed that Pulte has no background in intelligence or national security, calling him a “partisan loyalist.”
“He is putting the national security of the country at risk,” Ossoff said, referring to Trump. “His handling of this is putting the United States at risk, and making a terrorist attack more likely because he is destabilizing America’s intelligence capabilities.”
Pulte’s tenure at FHFA has been marked by investigations into mortgage fraud allegations involving several of Trump’s political adversaries, including New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Ossoff warned that Pulte would “abuse his authorities in the intelligence community” for political ends.
The controversy comes as Trump’s nominee for the permanent intelligence director role, Jay Clayton, faced a sudden halt in his confirmation process. Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, but Trump directed him not to attend. In a post on Truth Social, the president said Clayton’s nomination would resume only after Congress passes legislation combining a voter ID bill with an extension of warrantless surveillance powers over foreign nationals. Trump also urged the Senate to confirm James McDonald as Clayton’s successor at the Southern District.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the committee chair, called the delay “regrettable.” “Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly,” Cotton wrote on X. “While today’s hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to proceeding with his confirmation in the near future.”
Ossoff’s remarks echo broader Democratic concerns about Trump’s management of intelligence agencies. The senator’s warning about increased terror risk aligns with criticism from other Democrats who have accused Trump of politicizing national security. Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to tie Clayton’s confirmation to unrelated legislation has drawn fire from both sides of the aisle.
In a separate development, the president’s approach to foreign policy has also sparked debate. Recent reports on Vance’s warning to Israel and a top Senate Democrat’s criticism of Trump’s Iran deal highlight the administration’s contentious international stance. Additionally, favorability polls showing Obama leading Trump underscore the political landscape as the 2026 midterms approach.
