Is Bill Pulte Trump’s least-experienced Cabinet pick? He’s got lots of competition

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/03/politics/bill-pulte-trump-cabinet-picks-experience

President Donald Trump appears to have chosen one of his diciest Cabinet picks yet, with the elevation of 38-year-old Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte to the job of acting director of national intelligence.

Even many Republicans have questioned or criticized the selection, often pointing to his lack of any discernible intelligence experience.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said he had “no evidence” that Pulte was qualified. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she was perplexed by Pulte’s selection. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cited Pulte’s “absence of apparent qualifications.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune more subtly cited how, in the role of DNI, “we need professionals there.” And both Thune and Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton on Tuesday declined to vouch for Pulte’s level of experience.

Before joining the Trump administration last year, Pulte spent a career in the finance sector and various other pursuits, including an air conditioning company and a nonprofit that cleared abandoned homes.