‘Don’t think he has a prayer’
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) questions Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on February 5, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Nathan Posner | Anatolia | Getty Images
Republican Senator Thom Tillis on Wednesday called President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the US intelligence community an “incendiary attack dog” and said there was no way he would be confirmed by the Senate.
The retired North Carolina senator’s remarks on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” added to the growing backlash against Bill Pulte, the current head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Trump appointed acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday.
“I don’t think he has a prayer to get through the Senate and become the permanent DNI,” Tillis said of Pulte.
But the senator acknowledged that the Trump administration may try to sidestep the issue by leaving Pulte in place with an “acting” title rather than pressing for full approval.
Pulte, who has no prior experience in an intelligence role, is widely viewed as a Trump loyalist who targeted the president’s political enemies during his tenure running the housing regulator.
Those targets include Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who both face allegations of mortgage-related misconduct by Pulte.
Trump said Pulte will serve as acting DNI while continuing to work as FHFA director and president of mortgage groups Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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