William Pulte, currently at the helm of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and overseeing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has been appointed as the acting director of national intelligence. This move follows the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard from the position in late May.
Pulte’s Background and Presidential Endorsement
President Trump announced the appointment via his Truth Social platform, stating that Pulte possesses extensive experience in managing critical national security matters. The President also indicated that Pulte will continue to fulfill his existing responsibilities within the housing sector. Pulte, 38, is a vocal supporter of the President and has gained a reputation for publicly confronting political opponents. Some media outlets have characterized him as the President’s “attack dog.”
Pulte has previously leveled accusations of document falsification against Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James concerning mortgage applications. Reports have surfaced indicating that Pulte may have improperly accessed mortgage records belonging to James and other Democratic figures, according to an internal complaint at Fannie Mae.
A federal grand jury had indicted James in October, but the charges were later dismissed without prejudice by a federal judge due to unrelated issues. Pulte has also been a proponent of a mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, a case that Trump previously attempted to use as grounds for Cook’s dismissal. This case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Internal and External Friction
The heir to a home-building fortune, Pulte’s assertive and public political stance has created divisions, even within President Trump’s own circle. Beyond targeting political adversaries, Pulte has also dismissed internal ethics officials who were investigating individuals aligned with the President. Pulte has described these dismissals as an effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies within Fannie Mae.
On housing finance matters, Pulte has advocated for the introduction of a 50-year mortgage in the United States, a proposal that has met with strong opposition from some within the MAGA movement. Pulte’s family has also experienced rifts over the direction of their PulteGroup company, with William Pulte stepping down from the company’s board in 2020.
Further reports suggest friction between Pulte and members of President Trump’s inner circle. In 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly threatened physical altercations with Pulte during a private club dinner, according to separate accounts.
