Trump’s replacement pick for intelligence head has no experience, but he also never had a security clearance

Bill Pulte did not have a security clearance granting him access to highly classified information before he was announced as President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the United States intelligence community.

According to CNN, this means he lacked what has long been considered a basic prerequisite for the job he will soon occupy, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Per reports, the office Pulte is expected to lead, at least temporarily, initiated the vetting process for his security clearance on Thursday by requesting a background investigation. This happened just days after the president announced that Pulte would serve as acting Director of National Intelligence. 

Pulte, a wealthy businessman, was confirmed as Federal Housing Finance Agency director last year, but reportedly lacks demonstrated experience in national security matters. According to The Guardian he has built a reputation as a “staunch Trump loyalist” who played a role in pushing the Justice Department to pursue some of the president’s cases against his personal foes.

In an Interview, Trump states that he has specific goals for Pulte

Per CNN, Trump’s goal with Pulte is to see changes at the agency. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the president noted that he had told Pulte that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is unnecessary or too big, and he instructed him to begin firing employees. 

“I’d like to see it smaller, I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” Trump told WSJ. He also suggested that Pulte’s status as the acting head might make him more effective.“You’re less shackled. It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.”

Another reported anomaly is that Pulte did not have access to classified material before his announcement, which is dramatically different from nearly every other director of national intelligence before him. Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, told CNN that the director of national intelligence has access to all of our most classified intelligence. Warner also noted there is no evidence that Pulte would respect those classifications.

There are different levels of clearance, ranging from confidential to Top Secret. The most sensitive materials are classified beyond Top Secret in what are known as compartmentalized access programs that typically require a strict need-to-know and additional background screenings. Sources indicated to CNN that before the president’s announcement, Pulte had never been vetted for potential security vulnerabilities, a process typically required for higher-level security clearance. 

It remains unclear if Pulte has committed to taking a polygraph test, which is a stringent requirement for access to the US intelligence community’s classified network. While these tests are not always mandatory for high-ranking presidential appointees, they are standard for others. 

Regardless, according to CNN’s sources, the president is widely expected to grant Pulte access to classified information before he formally steps into the role next month. The belief is that he could potentially do so in a way that allows Pulte to bypass those vetting requirements in the short term.

When asked about Pulte’s qualifications on Thursday, the president appeared to dismiss bipartisan concerns. “I wasn’t greatly experienced in national security, and I think I’ve done a really great job with it,” he said. “He’s very smart. He’s a person who’s got high integrity. He’s done a phenomenal job … He may find out some things about the rigged elections.” CNN believes that Pulte might support Trump in his claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

The search for a new intelligence chief began after Tulsi Gabbard announced she would resign as director of national intelligence last month to support her husband. While some allies suggested the president should replace her with someone possessing more intelligence experience, the most compelling argument for the president was reportedly choosing someone willing to take on the establishment and the so-called deep state. 

One source described the president’s rationale as wanting to get things done quickly, noting that while he likes Gabbard, she is very methodical. Bill is a move-fast-and-break-things kind of guy, the source told CNN.

Pulte reportedly had made it clear to the president that he wanted a bigger role within the administration and even lobbied directly to lead the intelligence agency after Gabbard announced her departure. Now, the 38-year-old will have a larger platform to address the president’s grievances. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has already voiced concerns, stating, “We don’t need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there.”