Trump Appoints Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence

In a recent announcement, President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence, succeeding Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned to care for her husband diagnosed with a rare cancer. Pulte, currently leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will serve in this role until a permanent director is nominated. This transition highlights the ongoing changes within the administration as Gabbard steps down to focus on family health matters. Read on to learn more about Pulte's background and the implications of this appointment.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2026, 20:07 IST

New Appointment in National Intelligence

Washington DC: On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte, who is currently at the helm of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is known to be a close ally of Trump. He will take over from Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down last month. Pulte will serve in this role until a permanent director is nominated by the President. Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, stating, "I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."

Trump praised Pulte's extensive experience in managing critical issues related to the safety and stability of financial markets, overseeing over $10 trillion at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which has seen significant growth over the past year. He emphasized that Pulte will continue his roles at the Federal Housing Finance Agency and as Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during this interim period.

Previously, Trump had indicated that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would temporarily fill the role after Gabbard's resignation.

Profile of Bill Pulte

William John Pulte, commonly referred to as Bill Pulte, is a businessman who has been leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since 2025. He is the grandson of William J. Pulte, the founder of PulteGroup, a prominent residential construction firm. In January 2025, Trump nominated Pulte for the FHFA director position, and he was confirmed by the Senate in March.

Reason Behind Gabbard's Resignation

On May 22, Gabbard announced her resignation from the role of Director of National Intelligence to care for her husband, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. She communicated her decision to Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office and will continue to serve until June 30. In her resignation letter shared on X, Gabbard expressed gratitude to Trump for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the past year and a half. She stated, "Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026," citing her husband's health challenges as the reason for her departure from public service.