House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday accused House Democrats of threatening to withhold support for reauthorizing the nation's foreign intelligence surveillance powers unless President Trump rescinds his appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency with no known background in intelligence or national security, was named Tuesday to replace Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard left the position recently, citing her husband's battle with a rare form of bone cancer. The surprise appointment came as Congress races to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before it expires June 12.
What the Left Is Saying
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Pulte's appointment evidence of the administration's approach to national security. 'Bill Pulte is deeply unserious, deeply dangerous and deeply unqualified,' Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. 'His supposed elevation as the acting Director of National Intelligence will jeopardize the effort to pass surveillance legislation that was already on life support.'
Democrats have questioned whether Pulte has the experience necessary to oversee 18 intelligence agencies at a time when foreign threats remain elevated. The party's position creates pressure on Republican leaders who need bipartisan support to extend FISA powers before next week's deadline.
What the Right Is Saying
Johnson defended Trump's appointment authority and urged Democrats to prioritize national security over political disputes. 'It is absolutely outrageous that they would suggest withholding their votes because of an interim appointment that is the president's choice to do,' Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday.
The Speaker argued FISA reauthorization is too important to be tied to personnel disagreements. 'This is the statute that keeps Americans safe, and if we want to prevent terrorist attacks in the homeland, we cannot allow that to go dark,' he said. When pressed by reporters about Democratic skepticism of Pulte's qualifications, Johnson pushed back: 'The Democrats wouldn't trust Jesus.' He later characterized Democratic opposition as symptomatic of what he called 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.'
What the Numbers Show
Section 702 of FISA authorizes warrantless surveillance of foreign targets located outside the United States and is considered a critical tool by intelligence officials. The provision expires June 12 without congressional action.
Republican leaders will need at least some Democratic support in the House and at least seven Democrats in the Senate to advance a reauthorization bill under standard procedures, according to Congressional Budget Office guidance on bipartisan legislation. Intelligence community officials have warned that allowing Section 702 to lapse would create gaps in surveillance capabilities used to track foreign threats.
The Bottom Line
The FISA standoff illustrates broader tensions between the White House and congressional Democrats over national security leadership. With the June 12 deadline approaching, both sides face pressure to find a path forward on surveillance authorities that have historically received bipartisan support.
Republicans need Democratic votes to reauthorize FISA powers under Senate rules requiring 60 votes for most legislation. Whether party leaders can negotiate qualifications commitments from Pulte or reach a separate agreement on intelligence oversight reforms will likely determine whether Section 702 survives the current congressional session.