{"id":2610343,"date":"2026-06-03T19:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/intel-committee-lawmakers-say-they-havent-spoken-with-bill-pulte\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T19:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:07:52","slug":"intel-committee-lawmakers-say-they-havent-spoken-with-bill-pulte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/intel-committee-lawmakers-say-they-havent-spoken-with-bill-pulte\/","title":{"rendered":"Intel committee lawmakers say they haven&#8217;t spoken with Bill Pulte"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fintel-committee-lawmakers-say-they-havent-spoken-with-bill-pulte%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2610343&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Congressional intelligence leaders have not yet met with President Trump\u2019s acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, as lawmakers try to reauthorize FISA Section 702 before a June 12 deadline. House intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford said he has no plans to meet Pulte soon and is still <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >reserving judgment amid criticism<\/a> that Pulte lacks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-media-told-us-the-bombshell-hunter-biden-scandal-was-russian-disinformation-he-just-admitted-the-laptop-could-be-his\/\" title=\"The Media ... Us The \u2018Bombshell\u2019 Hunter Biden Scandal Was Russian Disinformation. He Just Admitted The Laptop \u2018Could\u2019 Be His\">national security experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Other committee members echoed that they have not spoken with Pulte and expressed doubts about his qualifications, while some urged stronger White House involvement to ensure 702 is passed despite opposition. Democrats are threatening to oppose the surveillance reauthorization, arguing Pulte\u2019s appointment could derail the effort and raising concerns-based on his background in housing finance and political controversies-that he could misuse his position. Republicans and the White house defended Trump\u2019s right to appoint Pulte and criticized Democrats for tying FISA reauthorization to revoking the appointment, warning that doing so would endanger national security.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Key <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-whirlwind-24-hours-after-the-israel-iran-war-ceasefire\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s whirlwind 24 hours after the Israel-Iran war &#039;ceasefire&#039;\">congressional intelligence leaders<\/a> have yet to speak with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s new acting director of national intelligence, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-pulte\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22738\">Bill Pulte<\/a>, a striking reality as Congress races to reauthorize a key surveillance authority before a June 12 deadline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-intelligence-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"440\">House Intelligence Committee<\/a> Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Wednesday that he has not met with Pulte and has no immediate plans to do so. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/4580555\/ivanka-trump-target-iran-assassination-plot\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ivanka Trump targeted in Iranian assassination plot: Report<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/4579481\/tulsi-gabbard-odni-departure-timeline\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What led up to Tulsi Gabbard\u2019s departure from ODNI<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/4579928\/who-is-aaron-lukas-gabbard-interim-replacement-dni\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Who is Aaron Lukas, Tulsi Gabbard\u2019s interim replacement at ODNI?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI imagine at some point in time,\u201d Crawford told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Wednesday, for a possible face-to-face. \u201cI\u2019ve never met him, so I don\u2019t know when I\u2019ll have the opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crawford withheld judgment on Pulte\u2019s qualifications as the real estate mogul and social media personality faces criticism from lawmakers over his lack of national security experience. Pulte currently serves as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fannie-mae\/\">Fannie Mae<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/freddie-mac\/\">Freddie Mac<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other members of the House and Senate intelligence committees also said they had not spoken with Pulte since Trump announced his appointment on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNever met him in my life,\u201d Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"516\">FBI<\/a> supervisory special agent and member of the House Intelligence Committee, told the<em> Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the problem. I\u2019m a career IC guy. Never met him before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), another House Intelligence Committee member, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Pulte \u201cdoesn\u2019t seem qualified\u201d and that he has \u201cnever met him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he also has not met Pulte but encouraged the White House to become more involved in light of the looming FISA deadline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe executive branch needs to assist us because we need to get 702 through and complete it,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cIf this is in the way or is going to hold it up because of Democrat opposition, public Democrat opposition, I think we\u2019re going to need the White House or the executive branch to get involved in helping us address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-intelligence-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"166\">Senate Intelligence Committee<\/a> Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-cotton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"971\">Tom Cotton<\/a> (R-AR) did not respond to a request for comment regarding whether Cotton had plans to speak or meet with Pulte.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Support for Pulte has become important as both the House and the Senate contend with reauthorizing FISA. The tool, which is used to surveil foreign nationals, has long been criticized for inadvertently capturing the data and records of U.S. citizens who come into contact with suspects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there are also concerns Pulte, who used his housing finance perch to criminally refer Trump political opponents to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department <\/a>over allegations of mortgage fraud, may similarly weaponize intelligence. As such, Democrats are threatening to oppose an extension of FISA. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHis supposed elevation as the acting director of National Intelligence will jeopardize the effort to pass surveillance legislation, that was already on life support,\u201d said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4592163\/bill-pulte-attack-dog-charm-offensive-trump\/\"><strong>HOW BILL PULTE TURNED BEING AN ATTACK DOG INTO A CHARM OFFENSIVE WITH TRUMP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Speaker <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\">Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA) defended Trump\u2019s \u201cprerogative\u201d to appoint whomever he desired before arguing Democrats were being \u201cabsolutely outrageous\u201d for making the reauthorization of FISA contingent on Pulte\u2019s appointment being revoked. The White House echoed the sentiment in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBill Pulte is a great selection and he will do a great job on behalf of the American people,\u201d White House spokesman Davis Ingle said. \u201cHolding FISA hostage puts America\u2019s national security at risk and it is shameful that some Democrats are threatening to put partisan politics ahead of the safety of the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key intelligence leaders haven\u2019t met Trump\u2019s acting DNI, Bill Pulte<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3395,"featured_media":2610344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25016792243622.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[67762,49747,3673],"class_list":["post-2610343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bill-pulte","tag-intel-committee","tag-lawmakers"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25016792243622.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3395"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610343"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610347,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610343\/revisions\/2610347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}