{"id":2610483,"date":"2026-06-04T07:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T11:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-urged-to-engage-as-pulte-pick-threatens-to-derail-fisa\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T07:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T11:16:15","slug":"white-house-urged-to-engage-as-pulte-pick-threatens-to-derail-fisa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-urged-to-engage-as-pulte-pick-threatens-to-derail-fisa\/","title":{"rendered":"White House urged to engage as Pulte pick threatens to derail FISA"},"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\">24<\/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%2Fwhite-house-urged-to-engage-as-pulte-pick-threatens-to-derail-fisa%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=2610483&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>The White House is being urged to help Congress renew Section 702 of FISA by a June 12 deadline, as negotiations are being thrown off by President Donald Trump\u2019s choice of Bill pulte as the nation\u2019s spy chief.  <\/p>\n<p>Fresh opposition is emerging ahead of the reauthorization: some Democrats say Pulte has previously \u201cweaponized\u201d government functions and cite concerns that his background at the Federal Housing Finance Agency and leadership at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac involved pursuing criminal referrals against Trump political opponents over alleged mortgage fraud. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) argues the executive branch should step in to prevent delays driven by democrat resistance.  <\/p>\n<p>Democratic leaders-including House Minority Leader Hakeem jeffries-signal they may oppose the extension if Pulte stays in the role. That could be consequential because past renewals have stalled in the House due to a split between hardline Republicans seeking warrant requirements for U.S.-citizen data and the need for broader support in the senate to overcome the filibuster threshold.  <\/p>\n<p>At the same time,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stanford-opens-chinese-studies-center-with-ccp-ties\/\" title=\"Stanford Opens Chinese Studies Center With CCP Ties\">national security experts warn<\/a> against risking the intelligence flow,especially given U.S. involvement in hostilities with Iran. Meanwhile, the White House defends Pulte\u2019s appointment and accuses Democrats of putting politics over security, though it and Pulte have not responded to questions about their efforts to garner support.  <\/p>\n<p>Adding complications, several House and Senate intelligence committee members reportedly have not yet met or spoken with pulte, including some members who say they have never interacted with him.  <\/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\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> is being implored to step in and help <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"31\">Congress<\/a> extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after negotiations have been upended by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> appointment of housing finance guru <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-pulte\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22738\">Bill Pulte<\/a> as the nation\u2019s spy chief.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fresh from Republican blowback over the White House\u2019s proposed $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-he-gave-up-money-so-lawfare-fund-can-help-others\/\" title=\"Trump says he gave up money so lawfare fund can help others\">776 billion anti-weaponization fund<\/a>, the Trump administration is now facing pushback before next week\u2019s June 12 deadline to reauthorize <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fisa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"921\">FISA<\/a>, a tool used to surveil foreign nationals overseas without a warrant.<\/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\/news\/senate\/4593850\/intelligence-committee-lawmakers-havent-talked-bill-pulte\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Intelligence committee lawmakers say they haven\u2019t spoken with Bill Pulte<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\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<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a member of the Senate intelligence committee, encouraged the White House to get engaged to head off the trouble.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe executive branch needs to assist us because we need to get 702 through and complete it,\u201d Rounds told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \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\">FISA has long been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans for concerns that it captures the data and records of U.S. citizens who come into contact with foreign suspects surveilled by the government. Yet, Pulte\u2019s appointment is magnifying those concerns, especially for Democrats. They note that Pulte has used his tenure as 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> to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >make criminal referrals<\/a> against Trump political opponents for allegations of mortgage fraud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt appears that he has used his position, his government position in the past in order to weaponize government against Trump\u2019s perceived enemies \u2014 that\u2019s not the role of the director,\u201d said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). \u201cThe role should be to serve the American people and help keep us safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), are pledging to oppose an extension of FISA if Pulte remains in the post. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opposition from Democrats could prove pivotal, given that prior efforts to extend the program have faltered in the House over opposition from hardline Republicans, who want a warrant requirement before intelligence agencies can access the data of American citizens. Bipartisan support would also be needed in the Senate, where FISA\u2019s renewal would require the support of at least seven Democrats to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National security experts, however, question the wisdom of the strategy given that the United States is engaged in hostilities with Iran and that FISA is vital for the protection of the homeland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs a rule of thumb, we should not help terrorists succeed in mass murdering Americans by blindfolding the intelligence community,\u201d said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. \u201cOversight, checks and balances? Yes, absolutely. Cutting off the flow of intelligence and inviting another 9\/11? Definitely not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tulsi-gabbard-warns-about-story-boiling-beneath-news-cycle-a-threat-to-our-country-and-our-democracy\/\" title=\"Tulsi Gabbard Warns About Story Boiling Beneath News Cycle: \u2018A Threat To Our Country And Our Democracy\u2019\">put partisan politics ahead<\/a> of the safety of the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But neither the White House nor Pulte responded to the request for comment from the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> regarding what they had done or were planning to do with respect to encouraging support for Pulte or Section 702\u2019s reauthorization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Complicating matters is that several members of the House and Senate intelligence committees have not yet met or spoken with Pulte.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNever met him in my life,\u201d Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a former FBI 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 [intelligence community] guy. Never met him before.\u201d<\/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\">Even House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) had not met or spoken with Pulte as of Wednesday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI imagine at some point in time,\u201d Crawford told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019ve never met him, so I don\u2019t know when I\u2019ll have the opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Christian Datoc and Lauren Green contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>White House urged to help Congress renew FISA Section 702 after Bill Pulte appointment disrupts talks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4313,"featured_media":2610484,"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\/AP26154731759036.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[19971,78854,61596,32127],"class_list":["post-2610483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fisa","tag-legal-policy","tag-pulte","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26154731759036.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610483","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\/4313"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610483"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610487,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610483\/revisions\/2610487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}