[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WILLIAM PULTE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on the Pulte appointment, Trump's 
appointment of Bill Pulte to serve as Acting Director of National 
Intelligence appears to have been a hastily considered, backroom deal 
based on loyalty to Trump, not the security of our Nation.
  From what I can tell, no one in the administration consulted the law, 
which requires the DNI to have ``extensive'' national security 
experience--``extensive'' national security experience. In contrast, 
Pulte has a record of abusing his office to attack Trump's political 
enemies.
  The timing of this announcement could not be worse, with just over a 
week until FISA 702 authorities expire. This announcement and its 
timing clearly make passing an extension of FISA much harder.
  At a time when our Nation is at war and our troops are in harm's way, 
we need someone serious to lead the intelligence community, not another 
unqualified, inexperienced partisan.
  The security of our Armed Forces, the security of the American people 
depends on real intelligence and someone who states the facts clearly 
and boldly. Pulte would be about the last person I would pick to do 
that. He is simply a hack who does Trump's bidding no matter how 
egregious that bidding might be.

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