Thune Warns Against 'Weaponized' DNI as Trump Taps Pulte for Role

Senate Majority Leader John Thune broke publicly with the White House Tuesday, telling reporters the intelligence directorate must not become a political instrument after President Trump named Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting DNI.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters the country does not need a 'weaponized' director of national intelligence.
Pulte is known primarily as a homebuilder and has no public intelligence-community background.
The acting designation sidesteps a Senate confirmation vote for the full DNI post.
The appointment adds to mounting Republican unease over executive-branch personnel moves.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune broke publicly with the White House Tuesday over President Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, telling reporters “we don’t need a weaponized” DNI.

Trump tapped Pulte — a homebuilder who currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency — to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on an acting basis.

The acting designation bypasses Senate confirmation, placing Pulte atop the intelligence apparatus without a committee hearing or floor vote.

Pulte has no publicly documented background in intelligence work. His profile before the FHFA post was that of a construction and real-estate executive.

Thune’s remarks are among the sharpest direct pushback from Republican leadership on a Trump personnel decision since the new Congress convened. The majority leader did not call for Pulte’s withdrawal but made plain that the intelligence directorate carries institutional obligations beyond the political.

Senate Intelligence Committee leaders have not yet scheduled a public session on the appointment. A confirmation hearing for a permanent DNI nominee, should one be submitted, would fall before that panel.