Republicans are conceding President Donald Trump may need to replace Bill Pulte, his choice to lead the nation’s intelligence community, if Congress is to extend the government’s expiring foreign spy powers.
The GOP-controlled chambers will need Democrats to avert a lapse of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, something Democrats are unwilling to do unless Pulte, also the federal housing finance regulator, is relieved of his second post as acting director of national intelligence.
Republicans have gently acknowledged the writing on the wall of how to get the vital Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and counteract defections among their own ranks ahead of the Friday deadline.
“I think I’ll let the White House speak to whatever the next plan might be there, but we need — we can’t pass this on the floor without Democrats,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). “All I know is, we have a deadline ahead of us. We need Democrat votes.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who recently lost his primary to Trump-backed Ken Paxton, said he was “still seeking any evidence of qualifications” for Pulte to undertake the national security role. Trump has vowed not to keep him in the role permanently, a pledge that’s failed to assuage Democrats’ concerns.
“Democrats are not going to vote to pass 702 until he’s withdrawn, and we need that done,” Cornyn said. “It’s a problem because we go dark on 702, it’s dangerous.”
The lack of votes was laid bare last week, when a bipartisan three-year extension was rejected by all Democrats, except for Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), in a rebellion against Pulte.
For now, the administration is urging Congress to authorize an extension by the Friday expiration date and warn of the ramifications if a lapse is not averted. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) downplayed the notion that reversing Pulte’s appointment, which came after the resignation of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, was a “necessary requirement of passing FISA” and that those suggesting so are “playing with a dangerous situation.”
“America faces real threats from foreign adversaries, terrorists, cyber actors, and hostile intelligence services,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth posted to social media over the weekend. “Section 702 remains one of our nation’s most effective tools for identifying and disrupting those threats before they reach our shores.”
Notably, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) has declined to defend Pulte’s ability to handle the role, and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), another member of leadership, referred to him as “not qualified” on Fox News Sunday.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the intelligence panel’s top Democrat, has been in contact with Republicans on next steps and referred to the timing of Pulte’s appointment as a “live hand grenade” on Sunday on ABC News’s This Week. Senate Democrats were unsure how they planned to proceed as a caucus as of Monday evening, according to Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).
JEFFRIES WON’T SUPPORT SPY POWERS EXTENSION UNLESS TRUMP FIRES BILL PULTE
But over in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) offered an unequivocal “no” when asked if he would support extending FISA with Pulte still in his temporary position.
“Reversing the Bill Pulte appointment is a starting point, not an ending point,” Jeffries said. “It’s a step in the right direction, because it reverses something that is clearly out of bounds, unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to occur.”
Hailey Bullis contributed to this report.