Bill Pulte's Family Linked to The Family Across 2 Generations as He Prepares to Lead U.S. Intelligence
Updated
Updated · Salon · Jun 9
Bill Pulte's Family Linked to The Family Across 2 Generations as He Prepares to Lead U.S. Intelligence
2 articles · Updated · Salon · Jun 9
Summary
Public records and obtained documents tie incoming acting DNI Bill Pulte’s family to the Fellowship Foundation—known as The Family—through two generations of philanthropy, prayer-breakfast attendance and relationships with its late leader Doug Coe.
The report says Pulte’s grandfather attended the 2015 and 2016 National Prayer Breakfasts at Coe’s invitation, funded projects with Coe allies in Michigan and helped launch Cornerstone Schools with backers linked to Fellowship work in Uganda.
Bill Pulte himself, 38, was not shown to have direct personal ties to the organization, but he has described himself as uniquely close to his grandfather, whose network overlapped with Fellowship donors, operatives and charities.
That matters because The Family has long cultivated quiet influence with U.S. and foreign leaders through the National Prayer Breakfast, C Street and overseas contacts, putting a politically connected religious network near a new intelligence chief.
When a secret network has ties to the DNI, who truly shapes America's intelligence priorities?
Can the new DNI lead global intelligence while also managing the nation's $10 trillion housing market?
Bill Pulte’s Appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence: Politicization, Controversy, and Congressional Backlash in 2026
Overview
Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting Director of National Intelligence in June 2026 quickly drew widespread attention due to his close political ties to President Trump and his lack of national security experience. The Washington Post and others questioned whether political loyalty alone was enough for such a critical role. Pulte’s new position came while he continued to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, highlighting a broader trend of officials holding multiple high-level posts in the administration. This pattern, along with Pulte’s controversial record at FHFA, raised serious concerns about the politicization and independence of key government institutions.