Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump announced that he would name Bill Pulte, a home-building heir who runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to be the acting director of national intelligence. In response, Damian Murphy, senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Yet again, President Trump is installing a completely unqualified loyalist in the nation’s top intelligence post. Pulte has never served in any national security capacity, never mind an intelligence role. It appears he was selected mainly due to his aggressive pursuit of political prosecutions against Trump’s political opponents. This nomination places Americans in harm’s way as the Trump administration continues to pursue reckless behavior around the world, increasing security threats to Americans from foreign adversaries.
Once again, Trump is prioritizing personal loyalty over the security of the American people. Given this development, Congress should not reauthorize Section 702 until the administration removes Pulte from the role of acting director of national intelligence.
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