The Steady State Opposition to the Appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Steady State, an organization of more than 400 former national security, intelligence, diplomatic, military, law enforcement, and homeland security officials, opposes President Trump’s selection of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence.
The appointment of unqualified political loyalists to oversee security and intelligence services is the kind of action historically associated with rising autocrats, who seek to subordinate professional institutions to personal loyalty and use them to protect and enhance their own power.
The Director of National Intelligence serves as the principal intelligence advisor to the President and oversees the United States Intelligence Community, including management of the President’s Daily Brief, coordination of intelligence collection and analysis across 18 agencies, and supervision of security clearance policies across the federal government.
Mr. Pulte has no meaningful experience in intelligence, national security, military affairs, diplomacy, or homeland security. Congress expressly provided by law that “any individual nominated for appointment as Director of National Intelligence shall have extensive national security expertise.” Mr. Pulte plainly does not meet that standard.
Senators from both parties have publicly questioned Mr. Pulte’s qualifications due to his lack of credentials and his eagerness to use the office for political retribution rather than independent judgment. Senator John Cornyn stated that he had seen “no evidence of qualifications for that job.” ,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested that any permanent nomination would face a difficult path. Senator Mark Warner (Vice-Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee) stated: “This appointment speaks volumes about what this President expects from the nation’s top intelligence official. Rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments, the President has chosen an official who has demonstrated not just willingness, but eagerness, to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution. Senate Majority Leader John Thune commented about Pulte that, “If he’s somebody they want in that position permanently, he’s got, as you all know, a lengthy road ahead of him.”
This reaction is unsurprising. Pulte’s primary expertise appears to be acting as Trump’s attack dog. Over the past year, Pulte has suggested that the Department of Justice investigate Democratic lawmakers, Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, over unsubstantiated charges of mortgage fraud. None of his assertions haves led to a conviction. Pulte pushed for Congress to investigate then-Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the renovation of the bank’s headquarters and pushed for the adoption of a widely ridiculed 50 year mortgage idea championed by the President. These efforts illustrate Mr. Pulte’s focus on political retribution– revenge and attack, rather than carryingcarry out the responsibilities of office.
Many members of The Steady State have spent decades studying authoritarian movements and democratic erosion overseas. One recurring warning sign is the replacement of professional, independent institutions with officials selected primarily for personal loyalty. The selection of an unqualified political loyalist to oversee the Intelligence Community raises profound concerns about the future independence and integrity of America’s national security institutions. Steven Cash, Executive Directors of The Steady State, stated: “The appointment of Mr. Pulte is unlawful, and nonsensical – it makes sense only from the perspective of a President uninterested in foreign intelligence, and focused on aggregating his own power, and revenge upon his perceived enemies.”
About The Steady State
The Steady State is an organization of more than 400 former national security professionals committed to defending American democracy from rising authoritarian threats. Its members include former ambassadors, CIA chiefs of station, senior Defense and State Department officials, FBI and DHS leaders, USAID and NSC staff, and senior congressional staff from both Republican and Democratic administrations.
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