In a rare bipartisan move, three Senate Republicans broke ranks Thursday to support a Democratic amendment that would have prevented Bill Pulte from simultaneously serving as acting director of national intelligence and leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), failed on a 49-49 vote.
Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined all Democrats in backing the amendment to the budget reconciliation package. The provision would have barred any Senate-confirmed agency head from also performing the DNI role in an acting capacity.
All three GOP senators have publicly questioned Pulte's fitness for the intelligence post. Cassidy told reporters he could not identify any qualification beyond Pulte's housing sector experience. Collins, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, said she was unaware whether Pulte even holds a security clearance. Murkowski noted she saw nothing in his background that would justify overseeing agencies like the CIA and NSA.
The amendment's failure underscores the deepening divide over President Trump's decision to tap Pulte—a housing finance regulator with no national security background—to lead the nation's intelligence apparatus. Critics argue the move risks politicizing intelligence work, especially given Pulte's recent use of FHFA data to support criminal allegations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Democrats have threatened to block renewal of Section 702 surveillance authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless Pulte is removed from the DNI role. Warner described the appointment as insulting
to intelligence professionals, adding that the notion of one person managing both housing policy and national security was insane
.
Even some Republicans have signaled they would oppose a permanent nomination. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that anyone serving as DNI must meet statutory national security experience requirements, and that no nominee falling short would earn his vote.
The controversy comes as the administration faces scrutiny over other personnel moves. In a related development, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed in Senate testimony that he threatened to kick Pulte's a--
during a heated exchange, highlighting internal tensions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has accused Democrats of jeopardizing national security by linking FISA renewal to the Pulte appointment, but the standoff shows no signs of easing. With the World Cup approaching and multiple global threats looming, critics warn that an unqualified acting DNI could undermine U.S. intelligence operations.
