Donald Trump’s new acting spy chief hadn’t even started the role before he began poking around about its perks.
Bill Pulte, 38, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and recently appointed acting Director of National Intelligence, wanted to know if he’d receive access to a government plane, a benefit that ultimately came back to haunt Kristi Noem.
In his very first briefing with his new team at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) last week, he inquired about the plane, and appeared concerned about his freedom to travel between his home state Florida, DC and Chicago, sources told CNN.
‘That was a bit odd,’ one of the sources familiar with the matter remarked.
Pulte also wondered if he’d receive a top-secret security clearance and if he could take some intelligence home, the sources claimed.
The 38-year-old has never worked in intelligence until his recent appointment, causing major concern among lawmakers in both parties.
Pulte also inquired about whether he could bring the President’s Daily Brief (PDB) home with him, sources claimed.
The highly-classified document is typically kept on a tablet or printed out and contains the most pressing matters domestically and abroad for Trump to review.
Acting DNI Bill Pulte, 38, asked ODNI staff about whether or not he’d get a top-secret security clearance as interim boss of the agency, sources told CNN
Pulte has been seen as a Trump disciple who will do what the President asks. Critics note he has no National Security experience, which is a requirement of the job
He also wondered if he’d get a protective security detail before officially starting on Friday, a source told CNN.
Trump named Pulte his acting DNI after ex-boss Tulsi Gabbard stepped down to help her husband, Abraham, as he gets treatment for a rare form of cancer. Friday is his first official day on the job.
Reports indicated that Gabbard held different beliefs than Trump on certain topics; Pulte in comparison is one of the President’s staunchest enablers.
The acting ODNI and housing director helped launch mortgage fraud suits against some of the President’s political opponents, like ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The heir of the massive home builder PulteGroup, the acting DNI first came onto Trump’s radar while he was giving away money for free on social media and cheerleading the Republican during his first term.
This term, Trump appointed Pulte to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and while in the President’s inner circle, the 38-year-old has worked his way onto Air Force One flights with the President and regularly stops to chat with him.
His access to Trump has frustrated some in the administration.
Pulte has also drawn the ire of his own Trump administration colleagues, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who last year threatened to punch Pulte in his ‘f***ing face’ after allegedly badmouthing the secretary to the President.
Democrats have fumed over Pulte’s appointment. Senator Mark Warner (R), top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has bashed the 38-year-old as inexperienced and highly political
Since the DNI position is supposed to be apolitical, lawmakers have expressed fears that Pulte will take a hardline Trump-backing approach to unleash against Trump’s enemies.
‘This isn’t something to overthink — President Trump wanted someone in that position who is a true loyalist, who will do what he wants him to do. He has that in Bill,’ a source told CNN.
The President has said that Pulte will keep his role as housing director while simultaneously coordinating the federal government’s 18 intelligence agencies as acting DNI.
The co-appointments have baffled some who point out the DNI job is a Cabinet-level position that certainly is not a part-time responsibility.
Trump has since nominated US Attorney Jay Clayton to become DNI, pending Senate approval.
Though it is unclear when he may receive a vote to take over ODNI.
