The White House is being implored to step in and help Congress extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after negotiations have been upended by President Donald Trump’s appointment of housing finance guru Bill Pulte as the nation’s spy chief.

Bill Pulte – who has no known experience in national security – has used his role at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to issue criminal referrals for mortgage fraud against Trump's perceived foes.

The amendment, introduced by Senate Intelligence Committee vice chair Mark Warner, failed in a 49-49 split. GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with the Democrats.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spent the past two days testifying before lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Bessent appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.

Rep. Bill Keating went ballistic after Marco Rubio said he'd never heard of new intel boss Bill Pulte "in the context" of intelligence during a fiery exchange

Donald Trump taps Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief.