President Donald Trump’s decision to tap his top housing regulator to also serve as acting Director of National Intelligence threatens to sideline an already-sputtering home affordability agenda five months before the US midterm elections.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will continue in his current post regulating the nearly $14 trillion mortgage market while also overseeing the sprawling US intelligence apparatus, Trump announced Tuesday. In addition, the president said Pulte will remain as chairman of the boards of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled companies underpinning the housing market.
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, during a Bloomberg Television interview outside the White House on Jan. 12, 2026.
Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg
While Pulte lacks experience with ...
