Press Releases

Himes Statement on Appointment of Bill Pulte

Washington, June 2, 2026

Washington, DC— Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Jim Himes today released the following statement:

“Despite a law requiring the Director of National Intelligence to have ‘extensive’ national security experience, the President’s choice for Acting DNI, Bill Pulte, has quite literally no relevant experience with intelligence or national security. His brief career in public service has shown only that he is willing to abuse his office to attack Donald Trump’s political enemies. That would be dangerous in any job, but in a position that requires sober, apolitical judgment based on intelligence, it is potentially catastrophic for national security. Putting Pulte in charge of ODNI makes a mockery of the very real national security challenges our nation faces. At the very least, Pulte must undergo a full security clearance process before he is allowed access to our most sensitive intelligence programs, and the Administration must be transparent with the Intelligence Committees on that process.”