Trump officials seek to scale back ODNI amid FISA stalemate

• President Trump announced Bill Pulte will become acting Director of National Intelligence on June 19.
• Pulte will continue in his roles as FHFA director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
• Lawmakers have expressed concerns about Pulte's qualifications and his use of the FHFA position.
• The FISA Section 702 renewal is stalled, with some threatening to block it if Pulte remains acting DNI.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested a permanent nominee is needed to unlock FISA support.

President Trump announced that Bill Pulte will assume the role of acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on June 19, 11 days earlier than previously scheduled. Pulte, currently the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director, will also retain his positions at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during this interim period.

The accelerated transition comes amid a stalemate in Congress over the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Some Democratic lawmakers have indicated they will block the renewal of FISA's warrantless surveillance powers if Pulte remains the acting DNI, citing concerns about his qualifications and his past actions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) voiced skepticism regarding Pulte's suitability for a permanent DNI role, stating the need for a "professional" intelligence chief. Thune suggested that the White House is considering a permanent nominee and that resolving the DNI position is critical to securing the necessary bipartisan support for FISA's reauthorization.