Exclusive: Democrats demand testimony from housing director

Democrats are renewing their calls for Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to appear before Congress. Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee are renewing their calls for Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to appear before Congress after he sidelined its internal watchdog earlier this month. “Hearing testimony from Director Pulte is more important than ever in light of his recent decision to shutter the FHFA Office of Inspector General,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., shared first with Semafor. They also highlighted Pulte’s other moves, like appointing himself as chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; laying off employees; accusing Trump’s political enemies of mortgage fraud; and serving simultaneously as acting director of national intelligence. The letter provides a useful road map for how Democrats would scrutinize the agency if they win a majority of either chamber this fall. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the Nevada Democrat who led the effort, pushed for passage of a bill last week that would require the FHFA internal watchdog receive whatever funding it requested. Scott and FHFA did not return requests