Trump DNI pick Pulte gets U.S. intelligence access

Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump’s controversial pick as acting director of National Intelligence, is set to assume the role Friday after Trump blocked efforts to quickly confirm Senate Republicans’ nomination of Jay Clayton for the position.

Trump’s surprising move will give Pulte access to the United States’ most secret intelligence data despite concerns it could use such information to target the president’s enemies.

Trump effectively said Wednesday that Pulte would continue to serve as acting DNI, blocking the Senate from hearing from Clayton at his confirmation hearing that same day until Congress went through several legislative hoops.

Trump has said he won’t sign an extension of a crucial national security program, even if passed by Congress, unless it includes approval of a controversial Voter ID and citizenship election bill.

Trump also said that before Clayton can be confirmed by the Senate as director of national intelligence, the Senate must confirm Clayton’s replacement, James McDonald, as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Democrats have vowed to oppose expansion of the national security program (Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) as long as Pulte is Trump’s DNI pick. And it’s unclear whether there will even be enough Republican senatorial votes to pass the election bill.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. He called Pulte a “national security threat” on Thursday.

“Donald Trump is treating our national security like a political bargaining chip,” said Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“A lot of what’s going on here is Democrats against Republicans. This isn’t Democrats against Republicans,” Warner said.

“Reasonable members of both parties in the Senate say let’s avoid a disaster, and Donald Trump throws a live grenade.”

Senate Majority Leader RS.D. “I think he’s very loyal to Bill Pulte,” John Thune said of Trump on Thursday.

Thune and other Republicans hoped to appease Democrats by quickly confirming Clayton and opening the door to extending FISA.

Asked about Clayton’s nomination and what’s next for FISA, Thune said, “I’ve never been asked to slow down a nomination before, so that’s probably a good question for the White House.”

Republicans and Democrats have questioned Pulte’s fitness for the job, citing his lack of national intelligence experience and his actions as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Pulte launched several investigations into Trump opponents over allegations of mortgage fraud due to his tenure at the agency.

Critics of Trump’s move said the president was endangering national security by both elevating Pulte and blowing up any path to FISA.

“Jay was on the verge of getting a very good hearing and possibly even getting support from Democrats, and now we’re in a situation where that may be the reason why 702 is not reauthorized,” Sen. Thom Tillis of the RNC, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, told reporters Wednesday.

Trump appointed Pulte to serve as acting DNI earlier this month after Tulsi Gabbard resigned in May.

Following the reaction from Congress, Trump said he would nominate Clayton.

The SAVE America Act, the election bill that Trump has requested be passed as part of the FISA extension, was introduced by the House of Representatives in February but has so far stalled in the Senate.

At a press conference at the White House on Thursday, Vice President J.D. Vance was asked about the bill’s uncertain status in the Senate.

“Why don’t we try and at least force people to vote against it,” Vance said.

“One of the things that frustrates me sometimes about the legislative process is that people come into this saying it’s not possible, so we’re not even going to try. Well, let’s actually see,” Vance said.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers are urging Trump to reconsider his position.

“Democrats are blocking FISA in bad faith, but confirming Jay Clayton would allow for a faster resolution,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., wrote in an op-ed. send to x.

“Mr. President, he is putting American lives at risk by preventing Jay Clayton from testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Put America first. Do not prevent Jay Clayton from appearing before the Intel Committee.”

But Trump seems focused on Pulte.

“Well, as long as it takes for everyone else to be confirmed,” Trump said at Wednesday’s G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, when asked how long Clayton’s nomination could be delayed.

“I mean, they were acting in a rush and we got nothing in return,” Trump said.

“Look, he’s a very legitimate guy; he’s very smart. He’s a great guy,” Trump said of Pulte.

—Emily Wilkins And Karen James Sloan I contributed to this story.