Donald Trump’s newly appointed acting Director of National Intelligence raised eyebrows within his own agency before even officially starting the role, after asking whether he could take home the President’s highly classified daily intelligence briefing, according to CNN sources.
Bill Pulte, 38, currently director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and now also acting head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, made a series of unusual enquiries during his first briefing with his new team last week. He asked whether he would receive access to a government plane, expressing concern about his ability to travel freely between his home state of Florida, Washington DC and Chicago — a perk that previously caused controversy for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “That was a bit odd,” one source familiar with the matter told CNN.
Pulte also asked whether he would receive top-secret security clearance and whether he could take classified intelligence materials home with him, sources said. Among his specific questions was whether he could remove the President’s Daily Brief from secure premises. The document, typically held on a tablet or printed for Trump’s review, contains the most pressing domestic and international intelligence matters facing the administration. He also asked about obtaining a protective security detail ahead of officially starting in the role on Friday.
Pulte has no prior experience working in intelligence, a fact that has caused significant concern among lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle. He was named acting DNI after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down to support her husband Abraham, who is being treated for a rare form of cancer. Where Gabbard reportedly held views that diverged from Trump’s on certain issues, Pulte is regarded as one of the President’s most loyal supporters within the administration. As housing director, he helped launch mortgage fraud lawsuits against several of Trump’s political opponents, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Pulte, heir to the major home building company PulteGroup, first came to Trump’s attention by giving away money on social media while cheerleading for the Republican during his first term. Since being appointed to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency in Trump’s second term, he has become a regular presence on Air Force One and frequently speaks directly with the President — access that has reportedly frustrated other officials within the administration. He has also clashed with colleagues, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who last year reportedly threatened to punch Pulte after he allegedly badmouthed the secretary to Trump directly.
Given that the Director of National Intelligence role is intended to be apolitical, lawmakers have raised concerns that Pulte could use the position to pursue a hardline, Trump-aligned agenda against the administration’s perceived enemies. “This isn’t something to overthink — President Trump wanted someone in that position who is a true loyalist, who will do what he wants him to do. He has that in Bill,” a source told CNN.
Trump has confirmed Pulte will retain his role as housing director while simultaneously overseeing the federal government’s 18 intelligence agencies as acting DNI — an arrangement that has puzzled observers given that the DNI position is a Cabinet-level role generally regarded as a full-time responsibility. Trump has separately nominated US Attorney Jay Clayton to take over the role permanently, pending Senate approval, though it remains unclear when a confirmation vote might take place.
