Senator Wyden Blasts Trump's Appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting DNI

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the longest-serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a sharp rebuke on June 3, 2026, following President Donald Trump's announcement that he would appoint Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

Wyden argued that Pulte, a billionaire and political ally with no intelligence background, poses a direct threat to national security and the integrity of government surveillance programs.

"Trump is appointing his top political henchman to one of the most important positions for protecting the safety of Americans and preventing terrorist attacks like September 11th," Wyden said in a statement. "Bill Pulte appears to be unscathed by intelligence or any semblance of ethics."

Wyden further alleged that Pulte has already used his current role at a housing agency to target Trump's political opponents, including Senator Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook. The senator warned that Pulte's appointment would make Americans less safe and risk weaponizing government surveillance powers for political purposes.

The announcement has reignited debate over the politicization of intelligence agencies and the qualifications required for the DNI role, which oversees the U.S. intelligence community and coordinates efforts to prevent major attacks.