Bill Pulte officially took the reins on Friday as the acting Director of National Intelligence. It is a move that places a staunch loyalist to President Donald Trump in charge of America’s vast intelligence apparatus. This transition follows a high-stakes, week-long tug-of-war between the administration and lawmakers in Washington over the future of the cabinet-level post.
The Guardian reported that the situation came about after a few key events. First, Trump abruptly cancelled a Senate confirmation hearing for his second, much-praised nominee, Jay Clayton, on Wednesday. Secondly, Tulsi Gabbard, who previously held the DNI post, saw her tenure end on Friday after a turbulent 15 months. While she had originally planned to step down on June 30, the president reportedly shortened her timeline, forcing a rapid transition.
