Trump names housing regulator attack dog as acting intelligence chief

President https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump tapped https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/bill-pulte-housing-regulator-jerome-powell-doj" target="_blank">Bill Pulte, his unusually prominent Federal Housing Finance Agency director, as the new acting director of national intelligence.

The big picture: Pulte, a former private equity CEO, will split time between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a massively important position for the country's national security — an extraordinary dynamic even against the backdrop of https://www.axios.com/2025/02/27/trump-cabinet-rubio-vought-patel" target="_blank">other officials wearing multiple hats.

• An https://www.axios.com/2025/08/21/trump-weaponization-revenge-doj-gabbard" target="_self">unlikely strongman of Trump's campaign of political combat, Pulte built a MAGA name for himself https://www.axios.com/2025/08/20/trump-pulte-cook-fed-mortgage-fraud" target="_blank">laying the https://abcnews.com/US/federal-housing-agency-refers-ny-attorney-general-james/story?id=120869452" target="_blank">groundwork for accusations of fraud against multiple Trump foes.
• He also emerged as an integral figure in the president's squeeze on the Federal Reserve.

Driving the news: Trump touted Pulte's "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" in a Tuesday post naming him as the new acting director.

• Former Director https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/tulsi-gabbard-removed-trump-administration" target="_blank">Tulsi Gabbard announced she'd depart the administration last month.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.