{"id":2611719,"date":"2026-06-07T13:45:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T17:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-james-lankford-joins-bipartisan-lawmakers-against-dni-pick-bill-pulte\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T13:46:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T17:46:33","slug":"sen-james-lankford-joins-bipartisan-lawmakers-against-dni-pick-bill-pulte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-james-lankford-joins-bipartisan-lawmakers-against-dni-pick-bill-pulte\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. James Lankford joins bipartisan lawmakers against DNI pick 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\">22<\/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%2Fsen-james-lankford-joins-bipartisan-lawmakers-against-dni-pick-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=2611719&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>Republican Sen. James Lankford criticized President Donald Trump\u2019s choice of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, arguing that Pulte lacks a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-biden-immigration-agenda-most-radical-ever-not-willing-to-enforce-law-against-criminals\/\" title=\"Cruz: Biden Immigration Agenda \u2018Most Radical... Ever, Not Willing To Enforce Law Against Criminals\">national security background<\/a> and is thus not qualified for the job long-term. His remarks add to a growing bipartisan backlash, with other lawmakers-including Rep. Mike McCaul and Rep. Jim hines-also questioning Pulte\u2019s qualifications and warning that the intelligence community\u2019s authority and assets should not be placed in the hands of someone they view as politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute is heightened by the timing: Pulte can serve for months without Senate confirmation under federal vacancy rules, after DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard stepped down for family medical reasons. Lawmakers who oversee intelligence programs and others in Congress have also linked their objections to broader tensions over reauthorizing FISA Section 702, arguing that Congress should not expand surveillance authorities while there are unresolved concerns about who is leading the intelligence apparatus. Trump has defended the appointment as temporary and has praised Pulte\u2019s intelligence and character.  <\/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\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-lankford\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"966\">James Lankford<\/a> (R-OK) on Sunday became the latest <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> to question President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> decision to install housing finance regulator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-pulte\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22738\">Bill Pulte<\/a> as acting director of national intelligence, adding to a growing bipartisan backlash opposing the president\u2019s pick. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Appearing on Fox News, Lankford said the nation\u2019s top <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/intelligence\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1400\">intelligence<\/a> post requires a leader with deep experience managing sensitive national security matters and suggested Pulte\u2019s background raises legitimate questions. <\/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\/white-house\/4598320\/trump-storms-out-meet-the-press-interview\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump storms out of NBC interview ranting about \u2018crooked\u2019 press and \u2018rigged\u2019 elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4598124\/trump-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-complete\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump hails Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool work as \u2018complete\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4597996\/trump-pardon-stephen-buyer-insider-trading\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump issues pardon to former Republican congressman convicted of insider trading<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s not qualified for the long-term position; that\u2019s been clear on this,\u201d Lankford said. \u201cHe has no national security background.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lankford\u2019s comments come as lawmakers from both parties have voiced skepticism about Pulte, who was tapped last week to lead the U.S. intelligence community after DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard stepped down to care for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer. Pulte can serve in the position for months without Senate confirmation under federal vacancy laws. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), who previously chaired the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-foreign-affairs-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2404\">House Foreign Affairs Committee<\/a>, and Rep. Jim Hines (D-CT), the top Democrat on the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-intelligence-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"440\"> House Intelligence Committee<\/a>, both used Sunday television appearances to challenge the selection and argue the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >role demands extensive national security expertise<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McCaul said he doesn\u2019t think Pulte is \u201cstatutorily\u201d qualified to take on the role, and like Lankford, emphasized that Pulte has no <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 Told Us The \u2018Bombshell... Hunter Biden Scandal Was Russian Disinformation. He Just Admitted The Laptop \u2018Could... Be His\">national security experience<\/a>. McCaul also raised alarm about the timing of Pulte taking on the role, which comes just before America 250 celebrations and the 2026 World Cup games. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hines also criticized Pulte\u2019s resume, saying he doesn\u2019t have \u201can iota\u201d of national security experience. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is no way that the authorities and assets of the intelligence community can be in the hands of an individual who showed that his sole reason for being in Washington is to do the president\u2019s political laundry,\u201d Hines said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appointment also triggered concerns among lawmakers who oversee intelligence programs. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and other GOP senators have also questioned whether Pulte is qualified to oversee the nation\u2019s 18-agency intelligence apparatus. Democrats have been even more forceful, arguing the appointment risks politicizing intelligence operations. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During his time as Trump\u2019s\u00a0Federal Housing\u00a0Finance\u00a0Agency\u00a0director, Pulte, a real estate scion and social media personality,\u00a0criminally referred Trump political opponents to the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\"> Justice Department<\/a> over allegations of mortgage fraud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has defended Pulte\u2019s appointment, emphasizing it is temporary, but saying Pulte is a \u201cvery smart\u201d and a person with \u201chigh-integrity.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4597020\/trump-teases-cuts-odni-under-pulte\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4597020\/trump-teases-cuts-odni-under-pulte\/\">TRUMP TEASES CUTS AT ODNI UNDER PULTE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversial pick spilled into a broader debate over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elliott-abrams-launches-group-to-chart-gop-foreign-policy\/\" title=\"Elliott Abrams Launches Group to Chart GOP Foreign Policy\">national security policy<\/a> on Friday when opposition to Pulte\u2019s appointment <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4596452\/seven-republicans-vote-against-fisa-extension-bipartisan-plan-blows-up\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4596452\/seven-republicans-vote-against-fisa-extension-bipartisan-plan-blows-up\/\">contributed to a Senate standoff over<\/a> reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key surveillance authority used by agencies to collect foreign intelligence. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several lawmakers tied their concerns about Pulte directly to the surveillance debate, arguing Congress should not expand intelligence powers while questions remain about who is leading the intelligence community. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lankford questions Pulte\u2019s lack of national security experience<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2611720,"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\/bill-pulte.png?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3667,5894,80981,3740],"class_list":["post-2611719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bipartisan","tag-politics","tag-pressuring-dni","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bill-pulte.png?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611719","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\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2611719"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611723,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611719\/revisions\/2611723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2611720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2611719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2611719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}