Let's look at some career highlights of Bill Pulte, Grampy's shiny new Acting Director of National Intelligence

[Miles Archer]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump · June 2, 2026, 9:06 AM

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. William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago. During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte! President DONALD J. TRUMP

https://trumpstruth.org/statuses/39039

VIA GOOGLE AI SEARCH:

The William Pulte controversy centers on his actions as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and his subsequent appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence. He has faced severe backlash, ethics probes, and lawsuits for using his agency position to investigate the private mortgage records of political opponents.

Key elements of the controversy include:

Targeting Political Figures: Pulte sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department alleging mortgage fraud by President Trump's critics, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, and former Fed Governor Lisa Cook, who was controversially dismissed.Privacy and Legal Backlash: Pulte's access to and publication of private mortgage data led to a lawsuit from Rep. Eric Swalwell alleging violations of the 1974 Privacy Act. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also launched an investigation into whether Pulte improperly accessed this information.

Ethics Probes and Firings:

Internal Fannie Mae ethics staff launched an inquiry into Pulte's data-gathering methods. This subsequently resulted in the firing of several whistleblowers, investigators, and the chief ethics officer, though Pulte claimed these layoffs were part of broader DEI cuts.

Unresolved Charity and Tax Questions:

Democratic senators have demanded answers regarding "Team Pulte Inc.," his nonprofit microdonation platform. They are investigating 2023 tax filings that suggest the charity may have funneled tens of thousands of dollars to corporate entities linked to Trump's legal defense.

National Intelligence Appointment:

President Trump elevated Pulte to Acting Director of National Intelligence, a move that drew immediate controversy due to his polarization, his past criminal referrals targeting the president's adversaries, and his concurrent retention of his housing and financial agency roles

[Irish_Dem]

1. He sounds like a great criminal to add to Trump's crime syndicate.

[dalton99a]

2. Bill Pulte belongs in prison.

[Ocelot II]

3. Predictably, Trump appoints the least qualified person he can find to whatever position is open.

Extra points for a solid history of grift and corruption. Even apart from this dude's horrific ethical issues, how does having been a private equity parasite with a B.A. in journalism and a director of the FHFA qualify him in any universe to be the Director of National Intelligence?

[dalton99a]

6. +1

[Kid Berwyn]

4. Guess dipstick forgot about the 50-year mortgage.

He was sore mad after the public reaction to “his”idea from Pulte.

[Attilatheblond]

5. Pulte's home construction business really screwed a lot of first time home buyers in Tucson years ago

Massive home development, modest homes aimed at first time home buyers, 'great deals, easy financing'. Yeah, and built on land that was not the most stable. Built fast, and showing it fast when foundations started developing serious cracks and shifts. Walls became unstable in many homes.

The home buyers were not financially comfortable, but were convinced this was the way to become home owners which would assure they would FINALLY be able to escape a life of just accruing a stack of rent receipts instead of equity in a home in a town with a fast growing market.

Many home buyers were trapped in homes that were not sound. I seem to recall many families had to move out when the homes became unstable enough to be at risk. Working people working in a state with very few union jobs, extremely low pay, and little consumer protections at the time. Some had to move into, and pay rent on apartments while still saddled with montage payments on houses that were unlivable.

Moved out of the area and didn't keep up with whether any of those home buyers were ever made whole again. Did know there were LOTS of lawsuits.

Good times back then. But Pulte made lots of money. I have no idea what other communities his construction company may have screwed over, but I was in Tucson at the time and had friends in the land title company that handled the Pulte account just prior to the brand new homes turning into money pits for not-well-off first time home buyers. Seem to recall the mortgage rates the were lower than the going rates at the time. Beginning of sub-prime rush to get buyers who really didn't have the income to qualify maybe?

Pulte was feasting well on harming a lot of people who could ill afford being taken advantage of. I always wondered how he stayed out of jail, but fat cats can afford good lawyers and politicians who accommodate.

[Ocelot II]

7. Exactly Trump's kinda guy.

Filthy rich nepo baby slumlord with a sketchy private equity business and absolutely no qualifications for the position he's been appointed to.

[Attilatheblond]

8. Since Pulte was in 'construction', one has to wonder...

does Trump owe any of his companies $ and how much?

Seems Trump is paying off a lot of his business debts with appointments.

[Ocelot II]

9. One suspects there was a quid pro quo.

Trump never does anything for free. "Forgive my debt and I'll give you an important Cabinet position that you aren't qualified for."

[Attilatheblond]

10. Pulti gets access to very sensitive (and useful to a crook like him) information

Cushy job, and he didn't even have to kiss Don Jr to get nominated for the post.

[maxsolomon]

12. That's his grandfather's company.

THIS Bill Pulte only served on the board of his Grandfather's company for 4 years, and he was despised by everyone there.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. 'received a trophy declaring he "Fucks Only The Young"' - this truly is the Epstein administration

the current director of national intelligence is a guy who two years ago received a trophy declaring he “Fucks Only The Young” at an (oddly dildo focused) event he organized dedicated to the conspiracy that Bed Bath and Beyond never actually went bankrupt

— paris martineau (@paris.nyc) 2026-06-02T17:43:49.227Z

"the current director of national intelligence is a guy who two years ago received a trophy declaring he “Fucks Only The Young” at an (oddly dildo focused) event he organized dedicated to the conspiracy that Bed Bath and Beyond never actually went bankrupt"

[MineralMan]

13. Pulte Rose to the Level of His Own Incompetence Long Ago.

Now, he is stepping into a new role where he is completely incompetent and ignorant.

The National Security folks will simply shut him out. They are very good at doing that. Out of necessity.

While serving in the USAF as a Russian Linguist, I spend 1968 and part of 1969 working in the NSA building at Ft. George Meade in Maryland. They didn't really have much for me to do there, until they found out that I had some skills that didn't show up in my paperwork. Then, I got to do some fun things and learn more than my fellow enlisted USAF folks.

In early 1969, the word went out that Richard M. Nixon would be coming to the building for a tour and briefing. An exercise was planned for him to observe. My self-taught skills ended up with me being in the exercise room, sitting in front of a machine during his tour.

You should know that, before he arrived in the building, the entire place got "sanitized." What that means is that no materials that were classified were to be exposed to anyone's vision, anywhere. That meant that no work got done while the VIP, Nixon, was in the building. Everything was neat and tidy and completely devoid of any information.

So, there I was in the room where the simulation exercise was taking place, looking busy in front of the machine I sat in front of. Things were happening there, but they were all staged for the exercise. I was following along with what was going on when people walked up behind me. I swiveled my chair, and there was Nixon, surrounded by men in high-ranking clothing. One of them explained what was going on where I was sitting and my name was mentioned. I looked at Nixon, stood to attention, and said "Good morning, Mr. President." After that, they all wandered off to the next work station, where something similar happened. After about an hour, Nixon left the building and I went back to my normal work station.

Why am I telling you this? Because at no time did President Nixon learn anything that had anything to do with what was going on in that building. He got his briefings and his tour and his simulation exercise. Everyone looked busy. All of that was completely intentional and planned. Nixon probably thought he learned about the NSA. In fact, he learned what the NSA wanted him to learn, and nothing more.

Pulte will learn even less. He's not the President. He's not anyone. He'll have his own staff, wherever he is, who will tell him what they want to tell him. He will not learn anything. He will not be in charge of anything. The work will continue, but not to his knowledge.

That's how those folks work. It's an eye-opener to witness in person.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. MaddowBlog-Trump taps FHFA's Pulte for acting DNI in latest radical personnel move

When identifying the most outlandish personnel move of Trump’s second term, the competition is fierce, though this has to be near the top of the list.

The idea of having Bill “Little Trump” Pulte serve as acting DNI, despite his recent abuses and obvious lack of qualifications, while simultaneously overseeing the FHFA, isn’t just misguided.

It’s the punchline to a dreadfully unfunny joke.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-06-02T14:01:34.012Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-appoints-fhfa-bill-pulte-acting-director-national-intelligence

There’s been some speculation about her possible successor, and while the president hasn’t formally announced his new nominee, on Tuesday morning he published a statement on his social media platform alerting the public to his acting DNI choice. The missive read in its entirety:

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. William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago. During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte!

When identifying the single most outlandish personnel move of Trump’s second term, the competition is admittedly fierce, though this has to be near the top of the list.

Pulte has no experience whatsoever working in or around the U.S. intelligence community, and no experience in the military or national security. He has earned a reputation as a hyperpartisan Trump loyalist who’s tried to use his office to target the White House’s political opponents.....

To an almost cartoonish degree, the Trump sycophant has taken it upon himself to target one White House foe after another, weaponizing mortgage fraud allegations against the president’s perceived political enemies, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook.

What does this work have to do with serving as the acting director of national intelligence? By any reasonable measure, nothing, though for Trump, who clearly wants unflinching loyalists in as many key positions as possible, Pulte’s antics are a key selling point.....

Others have been far less impressed. The Government Accountability Office, an independent and nonpartisan investigative watchdog for Congress, opened an investigation into Pulte’s alleged abuses in the fall, and around the same time, MS NOW reported that a federal grand jury in Maryland was investigating whether Pulte and Justice Department official Ed Martin illegally shared sensitive grand jury information with unauthorized people.

With a background like this, common sense suggests it would be wise to keep Pulte as far away from the ODNI as possible. Alas, in this White House, common sense is apparently in short supply.....

Senate Majority Leader John Thune admitted as much on Tuesday morning, saying, “We don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there. … If he’s somebody we want in that position permanently, he’s got a lengthy road ahead of him.”

[DET]

15. Believe it or not...

This guy is only 38 years old. That’s a lot of sucking up and grifting in a pretty short timeframe.