Trump names housing head Bill Pulte as interim director of national intelligence

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]And President Trump today announcing a new director of national intelligence.

[00:00:02]The president tapping Bill PY who is the director right now of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to be the acting director of national intelligence. He still needs Senate confirmation. But already the move is being panned. Our senior White House correspondent Haley Bull joins us now live from the North Lawn. And Haley, what are we learning about the president's decision to tap Bill PY as the head of the office of director of national intelligence?

[00:00:26]Well, while the White House is touting that selection, at the same time, we are seeing questions raised about his particular experience for this role.

[00:00:36]President Trump announcing earlier today that he was tapping Bill Py to be acting director of the office of the director of national intelligence, a position that oversees 18 intelligence related agencies. the president citing his quote deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the markets and over 10 trillion dollars at Fanny May, Freddy Mack, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago. The president says he will remain in his position as well overseeing US federal housing, Fanny May, Freddy Mack, and federal home loan banks. Dell, he has a career built in home building and development as well as investment in building and housing products, but what is not clear is what national experience uh he has in his resume. It is not listed publicly in his bio. And that has led to a number of questions to his tapping uh to this post. particularly some Democratic lawmakers uh are questioning this uh position and his resume, his qualifications for this. Uh Senator Warner saying quote his concern is not only that experience, but that he quote appears to have been selected precisely because the White House believes he will provide the narrative at once, not the intelligence we need. PY in particular has honed in on what he calls mortgage fraud, being a vocal supporter uh of efforts focused on particular uh Democratic uh leaders that the president has alleged or rather the administration has accused of mortgage fraud in the past. Uh but when pressed on the considerations that the administration gave uh to this, we are told from a White House spokesperson, quote, "The president chooses the best and most talented people to serve in his cabinet.

[00:02:25]That is why this administration has achieved record success for American people. Bill Py is a great selection and he will do a great job on behalf of the American people, but not delving into any particulars of what led to this particular decision. Uh, this announcement comes after director Tulsi Gabbard announced she would be stepping down uh from the position, citing the need to help care for her husband uh in light of his cancer diagnosis. D >> Haley, you were in the briefing room, Dr. Oz uh joining the rotating cast of White House uh press briefers. Did we learn anything new from his briefing this afternoon?

[00:03:01]>> Yeah, Del the Dr. Oz did not delve into the qualifications of Bill Py, though he was pressed repeatedly uh on this. Dr. Oz essentially saying it was outside of his lane. He more broadly doubted the administration's healthc care uh policies and efforts in particular when it comes to what they are calling their drug transparency site Trump RX, something we have repeatedly see this White House uh seek to publicize as well as their anti-fraud efforts. And that notably comes as the administration has faced challenges uh in polling when it comes to its handling of the economy amidst uh the US's operations against Iran. The president once more earlier today uh defending uh the actions with Iran uh denying that the US and Iran had stopped speaking amidst those negotiations. Uh notably he was also pressed on Ebola in which uh he defended the potential uh idea to use Kenya as a place to send Americans uh exposed to the virus. Uh additionally he defended the surveillance of this ahead of the hosting of the World Cup. Uh we are continuing to press the White House for answers and more insight when it comes to Bill Pidell.

[00:04:19]description of senior White House correspondent Haley Bullfor is live on the north lawn.