Bill Pulte speaks to the press in January outside the West Wing of White House in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump said on social media Wednesday that Pulte will take over as acting director of national intelligence on June 19. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed back against bipartisan criticism of his choice of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, calling for a short-term extension of a foreign surveillance program that could be at risk over his choice.
Trump chose Pulte last week to replace Tulsi Gabbard as director, later saying Pulte would not be the permanent replacement. The choice drew fire from Democrats and some Republicans. Pulte, who also is head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has used that role to investigate some of the president’s opponents and allege mortgage fraud. He has no intelligence experience.
Some of those opposing Pulte have said they’ll withhold support of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the United States government to collect communications by people outside the country, CNBC reported. The section will expire at the end of this week without an extension.
Despite the bipartisan criticism, Trump said on social media Wednesday that Pulte will take over the intelligence role June 19. Gabbard had said she would step down June 30.
“Just like they did on Border Funding, the Radical Left Dumocrats are trying to take our National Security hostage because of unrelated issues,” he wrote. “They should stop playing politics with the safety of our Great Country.”
The president also called for a short-term extension to Section 702, saying it is “very important to our Military.”
On Tuesday, Sen. John Thune, R-N.D, told reporters that the White House was seriously considering a long-term intelligence nominee.
“We’re encouraging it; at least I am,” Thune said. He suggested last week that Pulte could create a “weaponized DNI,” The Hill reported.
Another Republican who criticized the choice of Pulte is Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who called Pulte an “incendiary attack dog” for Trump.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a long-serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the president was “appointing his top political henchman to one of the most important positions for protecting the safety of Americans and preventing terrorist attacks like September 11.”
Pulte, he said, “appears to be unscathed by intelligence or any semblance of ethics.”
Section 702 has also been divisive, CNBC reported. The communications to which it applies include those involving Americans, and critics say it could be used to surveil U.S. citizens.
This week in Washington
President Donald Trump displays the signed “Secure America Act” in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday. The act requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
