Congressional members with national security backgrounds issued warnings Sunday that President Donald Trump’s selection of Bill Pulte as his temporary intelligence chief could block efforts to extend a crucial foreign surveillance program.
Both chambers of Congress are working against a Friday cutoff date to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits American intelligence organizations to track emails and other communications from foreign nationals abroad without requiring individual court orders.
Trump designated Pulte, who lacks any background in security matters, as acting director of national intelligence, taking over from Tulsi Gabbard who stepped down effective June 30.
Pulte will continue serving as head of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency while taking on the intelligence role. His interim selection has sparked anger from both Democratic and Republican congressional members due to his absence of relevant experience.
Democratic officials also contend Pulte has shown readiness to leverage his housing finance role to target Trump’s political opponents.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, described the selection as dropping a “live hand grenade” into congressional discussions just days before FISA’s expiration during ABC’s “This Week” broadcast.
Last Friday, the Senate prevented an effort to start FISA renewal discussions, though Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, informed reporters that another attempt would occur this week.
Democratic backing would be crucial for the legislation to advance through the Senate. Party members have indicated they will refuse support unless Trump withdraws Pulte’s temporary assignment.
Trump stated Thursday that he probably would not put forward Pulte for a “permanent” intelligence director role. However, Pulte can function as acting director for 210 days without requiring Senate approval.
Representative Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the timing of Pulte’s selection creates uncertainty about FISA’s extension.
“You just could not have come up with worse timing,” he stated. “If we had to pass another bill in the context of Bill Pulte, I don’t think we could.”
Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who also joined the ABC broadcast, commented, “I don’t believe he’s statutorily qualified” considering his lack of experience.
However, McCaul, a former House Homeland Security Committee chairman and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned it “would be the most grossly irresponsible thing I’ve seen Congress do in my 22 years in office” if legislators fail to extend FISA just before FIFA World Cup games begin in North America, and as weeks of celebrations start for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
While Pulte lacks qualifications for the permanent director position, Republican Senator Dave McCormick noted that the president has other officials available for intelligence guidance, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser.
“Bill Pulte is going to be a temporary fix until we get the right qualified person in there permanently,” McCormick stated on Fox News’s “Sunday Briefing” program.
Prior to Trump’s Pulte selection, both chambers were positioned to approve a compromise measure following lengthy negotiations. Now even Republicans anticipate the renewal might face delays.
“We write with regret to ask that you plan for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” stated a letter that Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley sent Friday to Rubio.
In their correspondence, first reported by Punchbowl, Cotton and Grassley attributed the situation to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chamber’s top Democrat. But Himes characterized it as an acknowledgment that Pulte creates the problem.
“I think at one level they’re acknowledging reality, which is that the Pulte appointment has taken 702 reauthorization off the table,” Himes told CBS.
