Why Trump picked Bill Pulte to lead US intelligence as critics question his qualifications

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump's selection of Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of National Intelligence elevates a housing finance regulator and former social media philanthropist to one of the government's most sensitive national security posts. Before entering government, Pulte was best known as the grandson of the founder of homebuilding giant PulteGroup and for building a large following through social media philanthropy campaigns that distributed money to followers online. He later became a prominent figure in conservative social media circles before Trump tapped him to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump announced the selection in a Truth Social post, praising Pulte's leadership of the housing finance system and his experience managing "the most sensitive matters in America." The White House declined to tell Fox News Digital whether Trump is considering Pulte for the position on a permanent basis. But expectations for Pulte became clearer Friday when Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he wants the acting intelligence chief to begin reducing the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. TRUMP NAMES BILL PULTE ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE "I'd like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn't be there," Trump told the newspaper, describing the agency as "unnecessary and/or too big." Asked whether he wants Pulte to fire employees, Trump said he wants him to "start the process." Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., quickly endorsed the effort, arguing that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has expanded far beyond the mission Congress envisioned when it created the office after the Sept. 11 attacks. "President Trump is right: the ODNI has grown far beyond its original mandate," Cotton wrote on X. "I've long advocated for downsizing, if not outright eliminating, this…