Trump Picks Housing Executive as Intelligence Chief
Trump has chosen Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief. Pulte runs housing finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
He has no experience in national intelligence. The appointment follows Tulsi Gabbard leaving the role.
Pulte is a strong ally of Trump. Some call him 'Little Trump.' His grandfather started PulteGroup, a large home building company.
Shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell on Tuesday after the news. The appointment drew criticism from both parties.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the country does not need a weaponized intelligence chief. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Pulte a partisan figure with no intelligence experience.
Klear Note — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-backed companies that help Americans get home loans. The intelligence chief leads the nation's spy agencies and requires Senate approval.
Key Terms 3
- Acting intelligence chief Temporary head of all US spy and intelligence agencies
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac US government-backed companies that help people get home loans
- Bipartisan criticism Both Republican and Democratic politicians spoke against the decision