Pulte’s 2nd Job Clouds Fannie, Freddie IPO as Both Stocks Fall About 40% in 2026
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 5
Pulte’s 2nd Job Clouds Fannie, Freddie IPO as Both Stocks Fall About 40% in 2026
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 5
Summary
Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting director of national intelligence, while keeping his FHFA post, has deepened doubts that the Trump administration will soon end Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s 18-year conservatorships.
Analysts say privatizing the mortgage giants is a 24/7 task, and Pulte’s added national-security duties suggest the effort has stalled despite Trump recently teasing an IPO.
Both companies’ shares are already down about 40% this year and slipped further after the appointment, denting hopes among investors who had expected Trump’s return to revive privatization.
A poorly handled exit could unsettle the mortgage-backed securities market that supports U.S. home lending, potentially pushing mortgage rates higher as home prices remain near records.