WASHINGTON — A critical intelligence-gathering program faces potential shutdown as President Donald Trump continues backing his controversial temporary choice to lead the nation’s spy agencies despite widespread opposition from both parties in Congress.
Trump remains committed to Bill Pulte, currently a federal housing finance regulator, as his interim selection for director of national intelligence, despite Pulte’s limited background in intelligence work. Democratic leaders have declared they will block renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, commonly called FISA, until Trump removes Pulte and selects a permanent nominee.
Congressional leaders plan to attempt passage of a temporary FISA extension Thursday morning in the House, though success appears doubtful. Senate leadership may also pursue similar action to avoid what would be an historic interruption of the surveillance authority.
This standoff threatens to restrict American intelligence collection capabilities overseas just as World Cup matches commence in various U.S. cities and before upcoming celebrations marking the country’s 250th birthday. The current authorization ends Friday at midnight.
“We can’t let them extort us,” Trump said of Democrats.
Trump has maintained his support for Pulte as interim leader, ignoring legislative pressure for a more experienced candidate. He requested Congress approve a temporary law extension to “provide time for the selection and confirmation” of a permanent director. He indicated his intention for Pulte to begin reducing the size of intelligence organizations.
Both political sides have assigned responsibility for the possible disruption of what many consider a vital, though long-contested, surveillance capability for national security.
“We’re going to ask every member here to do the right thing,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “We cannot allow that to go dark.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that if Trump desires consideration of a temporary extension, he must withdraw the Pulte nomination. Pulte represents a “disgraceful individual” and a “partisan political hack” who lacks proper qualifications for the role, Jeffries declared.
Republican congressional members have pressured Trump throughout the week to swiftly nominate a permanent successor. However, he maintains he requires additional time for the decision.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., indicated Republican leadership has “made our views known” to the White House.
Trump has revealed he is conducting interviews with five potential candidates for the permanent agency leadership position, following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard.
Johnson explained the president has clearly communicated that Pulte will fulfill a “very short term — a sort of renovation role” to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence undergo “renovation and downsizing.”
However, Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, headed by Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, wrote to the president describing Pulte as a “uniquely poor choice” even for temporary service.
Lawmakers from both parties who question Pulte have highlighted his absence of intelligence background and his tenure at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In that role, he has been connected to criminal referrals regarding alleged mortgage fraud by public officials Trump aimed to target, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve board member.
“He has distinguished himself only as someone who will do or say anything to stay in your good graces,” Himes and fellow lawmakers stated, “qualities that are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs.”
Section 702 of FISA permits organizations like the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to gather communications from foreign subjects abroad without obtaining warrants.
Although legislators from both parties citing privacy concerns have historically sought to restrict this power, broad bipartisan agreement existed for renewal, particularly after Republicans and Democrats recently negotiated a compromise measure.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has collaborated with Republicans on the compromise legislation for renewing the authority. Yet he described Pulte’s selection to succeed Gabbard as “a live hand grenade” disrupting the proceedings.
Warner stated his sole condition for supporting a temporary surveillance law extension would be having the principal deputy director of national intelligence, Aaron Lukas, serve as acting leader throughout that extension period.
Sen. Tom Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have cautioned the administration that the surveillance capability will likely expire.
The administration should prepare “for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” they stated in correspondence.
Following bipartisan resistance to Pulte’s temporary selection, Trump announced last week he would not permanently nominate him for the position. Yet Democrats, along with some Republicans, demand immediate withdrawal of his appointment and Trump’s nomination of a replacement confirmable by the Senate.
On Tuesday, however, Trump revealed that Pulte would not only assume acting director duties — he would also begin earlier than anticipated, on June 19.
Among several possible successors could be Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s ambassador to Canada and former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The White House has contacted Hoekstra regarding the position and discussions continue, according to someone familiar with the outreach who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
