GOP Senator Tillis Rejects Trump’s Intelligence Pick Bill Pulte
CNBC reported Wednesday that Republican Senator Thom Tillis publicly torched President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. intelligence community. Tillis described Bill Pulte, Trump’s newly named acting director of national intelligence, as an “incendiary attack dog” with zero realistic chance of surviving a Senate confirmation process.
A Loyalist With No Intelligence Background Tapped for Top Spy Role
Trump announced Tuesday that Pulte would assume the acting DNI role while simultaneously retaining his position as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and his chairmanship of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The dual-role arrangement drew immediate scrutiny. Pulte has no publicly known experience in intelligence or national security work. Critics inside and outside the Republican Party view him primarily as a political ally willing to use his regulatory platform against the president’s perceived opponents.
Tillis Pulls No Punches on ‘Squawk Box’
Speaking directly on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Tillis offered a blunt verdict. He said Pulte stood no chance of becoming the permanent DNI, stating plainly that he does not think Pulte “has a prayer” of clearing the Senate. Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is not seeking re-election, has established a pattern of candid dissent against nominations he considers unfit. His remarks Wednesday added significant Republican weight to a backlash that emerged almost immediately after Trump’s announcement.
Pulte’s Record at FHFA Draws Scrutiny
During his tenure overseeing the housing finance regulator, Pulte directed public allegations of mortgage-related misconduct at figures widely seen as political targets. Those individuals included Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Neither allegation produced formal charges. The targeting of a sitting Fed governor drew particular concern from analysts monitoring the independence of financial regulators. That history now colors how senators and market observers assess Pulte’s fitness for a post demanding nonpartisan handling of classified national security material.
What Comes Next for the Nomination
Because Pulte holds an acting designation, Senate confirmation is not immediately required. Trump could allow him to serve in that capacity for an extended period. However, any move toward a permanent appointment would force a floor vote, and Tillis’s comments suggest the math is already difficult for the White House. Republican defections on a confirmation vote could sink the nomination outright, particularly in a chamber where the margin for error remains narrow.
Read Next: Trump Picks FHFA’s Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
