Donald Trump’s newly installed acting intelligence chief reportedly began asking about job perks before officially settling into the position.
Bill Pulte, 38, who serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and was recently named acting Director of National Intelligence, wanted to know whether the role came with access to a government aircraft — a privilege that has previously drawn scrutiny in Washington.
During his first briefing last week with staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Pulte asked about the plane and reportedly raised questions about how easily he would be able to travel among Florida, Washington, DC, and Chicago, according to CNN sources.
One source familiar with the exchange described the line of questioning as unusual, saying: “That was a bit odd.”
According to the same sources, Pulte also asked whether he would be granted top-secret security clearance and whether he would be able to take intelligence materials home.
Pulte, 38, has no prior background in intelligence work, and his appointment has prompted concern among lawmakers from both political 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.
