Trump's selection of Bill Pulte for top intelligence role draws criticism

US President Donald Trumps appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence DNI has sparked a sharp political confrontation on Capitol Hill with leading Democrats questioning his qualifications for the role while Republicans largely refrained from immediate criticism and pointed to the temporary nature of the appointment news agency IANS reportedHouse Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the move as another indication of how unserious reckless and dangerous Donald Trump and his administration are with respect to the national security of the American peopleAddressing a news conference on Capitol Hill Jeffries questioned whether Pulte possessed the credentials required to lead the nations intelligence apparatusWhat exactly are Bill Pultes qualifications Does he have a national security background The answer would be no Does he have a military background The answer would be no Does he have a law enforcement background The answer would be no Jeffries saidJeffries also argued that the appointment could further complicate efforts in Congress to renew key surveillance authoritiesBill Pulte is deeply unserious deeply dangerous and deeply unqualified he said adding that the appointment will jeopardize the effort to pass surveillance legislation that was already on life supportSenate Democrats question Pultes independence and suitabilityCriticism from Democrats quickly extended to the SenateSenate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the appointment should send a shiver down the spine of everyoneBill Pulte has proven himself willing to act as a Trump political puppet filing baseless outrageous politically motivated charges on Trumps behalf And now Trump wants to put him in charge of intelligence Schumer told reporters after the Senate Democrats weekly policy luncheonSchumer stressed that intelligence officials must remain independent and guided by facts rather than political considerationsAmericans need an intelligence chief to be loyal to the facts If youre not loyal to the facts and intelligence youre not protecting our security he said The intelligence community exists to protect the American people not to serve as another instrumentality of Presidential retributionRepublican leaders however adopted a more measured responseRepublicans adopt waitandwatch approach to DNI controversySenate Majority Leader John Thune said lawmakers had only become aware of the appointment earlier in the dayWe were just made aware of that appointment this morning Thune said noting that any permanent nomination would require Senate confirmationWhen asked whether Pulte had the experience necessary to lead the intelligence community Thune deferred to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom CottonCotton declined to comment directly on the appointment and instead referred to the remaining tenure of current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi GabbardWe have four more weeks with Director Gabbard as the DNI Cotton said I have no observations on the matterThe dispute comes as Congress prepares to address several major national security issues including surveillance authorities and intelligence reforms Jeffries warned that lawmakers could find it difficult to trust the administration with expanded surveillance powers under the current leadership structureThe Office of the Director of National Intelligence was established following recommendations made by the 911 Commission to improve coordination among Americas intelligence agencies The DNI is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the work of the US intelligence community which comprises 18 separate agencies and organisationsWith IANS inputs