A senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday that Bill Pulte is not qualified to serve permanently as Director of National Intelligence, though he characterized Pulte's current appointment as a temporary stopgap.

President Donald Trump on June 2 named Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting DNI after Tulsi Gabbard resigned to care for her husband, Abraham Williams, who is being treated for an aggressive form of cancer.

Although Trump said Thursday that Pulte would not be his "permanent" choice for the top intelligence post, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said Pulte is "not qualified" to serve as DNI permanently. Lankford pointed to Pulte's lack of national security experience.

"He's not qualified for the long-term position, that's been clear on this. He has no national security background," Lankford told Fox News, according to The Hill. "This is a short-term interim, few weeks to a month type role to be able to put him in there, just because Tulsi Gabbard has had to be able to step aside at this point to be able to take care of her husband, who's going through medical treatments on that."

Pulte's critics have accused him of using FHFA authorities against several prominent Trump opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Pulte and his allies have argued that he was pursuing legitimate mortgage-fraud concerns.

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned Wednesday that anyone serving in the nation's top intelligence post must meet the national security qualifications required by law.

In a statement that did not mention Pulte by name, McConnell suggested he would oppose any future nominee for the position who lacks extensive intelligence or national security experience.

McConnell has previously broken with Trump on intelligence-related nominations. In February 2025, he was the only Senate Republican to vote against confirming Gabbard as DNI, arguing that her "command of relevant policy falls short of the requirements" of the office.

Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also have raised concerns about Pulte's background.

On Friday, Cassidy, Collins, and Murkowski voted with Democrats in favor of an amendment to block Pulte and other Senate-confirmed agency or department heads from concurrently serving as acting DNI.

The measure failed on a 49-49 tie vote, but questions about Trump's choice remain.

"I do not know Mr. Pulte at all. I don't know whether he has any intelligence or military background. I don't even know whether he has a security clearance," Collins, a Senate Intelligence Committee member, told The Hill.