At Senate Intelligence Hearing, Vice Chairman Warner Blasts Appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting DNI
WASHINGTON – RealEstateRama – Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today sharply criticized President Trump’s decision to name Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to also serve as Director of National Intelligence, warning that the appointment threatens the integrity and independence of the Intelligence Community.
During an open Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the nominations of Dr. L. Roger Mason to serve as Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Michael J. Vance to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, Warner questioned both Pulte’s qualifications and his fitness to oversee the Intelligence Community.
“I thought I’d seen it all. I thought I couldn’t be shocked anymore,” Warner said. “The fact that President Trump announced today that Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will also serve as Director of National Intelligence frankly stuns me.”
Warner noted that Congress created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence following the September 11 attacks and established requirements that the position be filled by an individual with extensive national security experience.
“Mr. Pulte has none of that. Zero,” Warner said. “No time in the military. No time in Congress. No time in the diplomatic corps. No time in law enforcement.”
Added Warner, “What qualifications, from my standpoint, does Mr. Pulte bring to the office? He has shown that he is willing to do anything that President Trump wants, legal or otherwise. He has taken the Federal Housing Finance Agency and weaponized private information to be used against the president’s political opponents, in terms of Lisa Cook and Adam Schiff, the senator, our colleague. And now, because of that record, we’re going to say, ‘Let’s turn over all of the intelligence, classified information, to this guy?’ Does that make sense?”
Warner argued that the appointment comes at a time when the United States faces significant threats from foreign adversaries and warned that placing an individual without national security experience in charge of the Intelligence Community undermines the professionals who serve the nation.
“It is an insult to the thousands of people in the Intelligence Community who serve to keep our nation safe and have the ultimate responsibility to be willing to speak truth to power,” Warner said.
The Vice Chairman also expressed concern about the potential impact of the appointment on congressional oversight and ongoing efforts to maintain public confidence in critical intelligence authorities, including Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Warner pledged to use every available avenue to oppose the appointment and reiterated the Senate Intelligence Committee’s responsibility to ensure the Intelligence Community remains professional, nonpartisan, and focused on protecting the American people.
Video is available here.
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