Warner Proposes Bill to Restrict Appointment of Acting DNI

Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced legislation to limit the president’s ability to appoint an acting director of national intelligence (DNI). This move targets President Trump’s choice of Bill Pulte for the role, bypassing the Senate confirmation process.

Pulte, currently leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), was appointed as acting director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) without Senate approval. Warner’s ‘Do Not Interfere in our Intelligence Act’ mandates that the principal deputy DNI, a Senate-confirmed role, should assume the acting director position in cases of vacancy.

“Bill Pulte may be exactly who President Trump wants running the intelligence community, but that does not make him qualified for the job…. The intelligence community should be led by experienced, Senate-confirmed professionals – not by whoever happens to be most willing to carry out the president’s whims and vendettas,” Warner stated in a press release.

Warner cautioned about potential risks under Pulte’s leadership, linking any security issues or threats back to decisions made by President Trump. Trump originally nominated Aaron Lukas to temporarily lead the agency following former DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s departure due to personal reasons. However, the decision was reversed with Pulte being assigned instead, a role he can hold for only 210 days under current regulations.

Pulte’s lack of national security experience has raised concerns, even among Senate Republicans. During his time at the FHFA, Pulte accused four Trump critics of mortgage fraud, escalating tensions with Democrats who wanted Lukas to be reinstated as acting DNI. Democrats indicated this situation might affect their support for renewing national spy powers.

Following Congressional inaction to renew foreign surveillance authorities, Trump nominated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as DNI. Yet, he later instructed Clayton not to attend his confirmation hearing, likely to prevent Pulte’s continued tenure as acting DNI.

Warner’s proposal requires a vacant principal deputy DNI position to be filled by a Senate-vetted individual from specified roles, including directors of the National Counterterrorism Center and National Counterintelligence and Security Center, or ODNI’s general counsel, or its inspector general. As a contingency, the bill provides additional options from Senate-confirmed officials in the CIA, Department of Homeland Security, and National Security Agency.