“Partisan Thug” and “Attack Dog” Bill Pulte “Has No Intelligence Experience” and “Doesn’t Seem Qualified” for DNI Role

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 3, 2026

What Everyone Is Saying About Bill Pulte

Washington, D.C. – Following the news that Trump named housing official Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, Republicans and Democrats slammed the decision to promote an “unqualified,” “weaponized director of national intelligence.” 

As head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte used his power to go after Trump’s perceived opponents. And now, the appointment of Pulte to run the DNI represents a dangerous turn for America’s intelligence agency, the latest example of  the Trump Administration prioritizing  political retribution over keeping people safe.  

Read what they had to say: 

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune: “We don’t need a weaponized DNI; we need professionals there.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: “Bill Pulte is a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence. He is another unqualified Trump appointee that will make our country less safe. And you won’t hear a word from the Republicans who claim to care about national security.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “The appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of National Intelligence is another indication of how unserious, reckless and dangerous Donald Trump and his administration are with respect to the national security of the American people.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): “The best I can tell you is he’s not qualified, but I don’t know anything about him other than that.”

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): “Bill Pulte is an attack dog. The guy got removed from his family board the moment the family no longer owned 51% of the board…I bring it up because it suggests a temperament that’s probably not right for the DNI role.” 

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): “The Senate doesn’t have any role to play in terms of confirming acting officials, but I see no evidence of any qualifications for that job.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): “Elevating [Pulte] to oversee the Intelligence Community makes clear that this president is not looking for an intelligence leader who will follow the facts or speak truth to power, but rather someone who will be willing to shape intelligence around the president’s wishes, regardless of the cost to the American people.”