Tangent
Clayton, the former Securities and Exchange Commission chair during Trump’s first term, is generally respected on both sides of the aisle, but he lost some support of Democrats on the intelligence committee when he refused to say during his confirmation hearing earlier this month that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. The Senate voted Monday along party lines to advance his nomination, without the support of the Democrats on the intelligence committee who helped expedite his nomination prior to his controversial remarks about the 2020 election.
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Key Background
Gabbard had already started to make cuts to the agency prior to her departure. Trump’s decision to tap Pulte as her replacement was widely panned by members of both parties. Chair of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte has no national security or intelligence experience and is best known for his fierce loyalty to Trump and efforts to punish his political adversaries.
further reading
Trump’s Pulte Pick For Intelligence Chief Blasted Far And Wide—Top Senate Republican Says ‘We Need Professionals’ (Forbes)
Read more Boeing Lost Another $280 Million Last Quarter On Overdue Air Force One
Trump Wants Controversial New Acting Intelligence Chief Pulte To Start Firing Staff (Forbes)
Trump Taps Pulte—Who Led Probes Into Trump Enemies—For National Intelligence Chief (Forbes)
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