Trump names inexperienced ally as intelligence director

Bill Pulte will now also serve as acting director of US national intelligence. (Reuters: Annabelle Gordon/File Photo)

President Donald Trump has appointed federal housing regulator Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

Mr Pulte, who is known for publicly attacking Mr Trump's political enemies, would also retain his existing jobs overseeing federal housing and mortgage policies.

He will replace Tulsi Gabbard, whose resignation in May ended a tenure that saw her at odds with Mr Trump over his war on Iran.

US President Donald Trump has appointed a loyalist with no national security experience as the head of US intelligence.

Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte, who is known for publicly attacking Mr Trump's political enemies, would also retain his existing job overseeing federal housing and mortgage policies.

Mr Pulte was named as the acting director of national intelligence (DNI), replacing Tulsi Gabbard.

Ms Gabbard, herself a controversial pick for the job, resigned in late May, ending a tenure that saw her appear to be at odds with Mr Trump over his war on Iran.

The DNI, who heads the US intelligence community and serves as the president's main advisor on intelligence issues, is legally required to have "extensive national security expertise", which Mr Pulte lacks.

Mr Trump hailed Mr Pulte in a social media post announcing the appointment, saying he "has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets".

Bill Pulte replaces the departing Tulsi Gabbard in the intelligence post. (Reuters: Nathan Howard)

Mr Pulte, 38, has been described by some US media as the president's "attack dog".

He has accused Democratic senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.

The Wall Street Journal reported that, according to an internal complaint at the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Mr Pulte had improperly accessed the mortgage records of Ms James and other Democratic officials.

Mr Pulte appointed himself chairman of the FNMA, known as Fannie Mae, upon becoming head of housing finance.

A federal grand jury indicted Ms James in October, but a month later, a federal judge dismissed the case without prejudice, leaving open the possibility that the charges could be filed again.

Bill Pulte was accused of improperly accessing the mortgage records of Letitia James. (AP: John Clark)

Mr Pulte has also championed a mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, based on which Mr Trum