Trump picks unqualified loyalists for sensitive intelligence positions
Democrats and Republicans alike are criticising Donald Trump after he nominated a loyalist with no intelligence experience as his new spymaster.
Bill Pulte is the grandson of a real estate mogul and has served as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency during the Trump administration.
Bill Pulte has no experience in intelligence or national security. AP
But today Trump announced Pulte would be the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago,” Trump said in a post in Truth Social.
“During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.”
Director of National Intelligence is a cabinet-level role responsible for coordinating 18 agencies, including the CIA, NSA and DIA.
It will become vacant at the end of the month after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.
While Pulte has no qualifications in intelligence or national security, he does have a history of investigating Trump opponents in his current role.
When asked about Pulte today, Senate Republican leader John Thune expressed his concern.
“We don’t need a weaponised DNI; we need professionals there,” Thune said.
“If he’s somebody they want in that position permanently, he’s got a lengthy road ahead of him.”
Other Republican senators criticised the pick more strongly.
Donald Trump. AP
“The best I can tell you is he’s not qualified,” Senator Bill Cassidy said.
“I see no evidence of any qualifications for that job,” Senator John Cornyn said.
Both Cornyn and Cassidy will be out of office next year after they were defeated in primary elections last month by Trump-endorsed opponents.
Democrats were much stronger in their criticism.
“I didn’t think I could still be surprised by this administration. You could not have picked a worse choice,” Senator Mark Warner said.
“Trump is putting his personal henchman in charge of national intelligence,” Congressman Greg Casar said.
“This isn’t about keeping Americans safe — it’s about weaponising intelligence against Trump’s enemies.”
Elias Irizarry during the January 6 Capitol riots. FBI
At the same time, a 24-year-old jailed for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has been appointed to a sensitive counterterrorism position.
Elias Irizarry has been given a role in the Defence Department’s Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, the Washington Post reports.
Irizarry was sentenced to 14 days jail after he entered the Capitol building through a broken window brandishing a metal pole.
He did not strike anyone, but a judge noted that he did nothing to stop one of his companions hitting a police officer with a pole.
After graduating from military school in 2024, his LinkedIn profile listed his job as Patriot. It is not apparent if he had a job before his new role at the Pentagon.
The office is one of the most sensitive at the Pentagon, and all staffers working there require top secret security clearance.
Irizarry was one of the more than a thousand people involved in the January 6 riot to receive a pardon from Trump.
Elias Irizarry has been hired to work at the Pentagon. LinkedIn
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