WASHINGTON - The Government accountability Office (GAO) has launched an investigation into Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, NBC News reported Monday. The probe will examine Pulte’s actions involving referrals he made to Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
The GAO’s investigation follows scrutiny of mortgage documents Pulte provided that led to the referral. Pulte has declined to reveal the source of the documents, stating in a September interview on CNBC, “I’m not going to explain our sources and methods. We make referrals almost every day. Lisa Cook happened to be one of them.”
Since becoming FHFA director, Pulte has frequently criticized Democratic elected officials targeted by Trump, and also Governor Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve. Trump has repeatedly called for Powell to lower interest rates. Cook was nominated to the federal Reserve board by President Joe Biden.
In August, Trump attempted to fire Cook, citing Pulte’s referral in a letter posted to Truth Social. The case is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme court in January.
The attention Pulte has drawn has reportedly caused friction within the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly threatened Pulte during a White House dinner in September, a report Bessent alluded to in a CNBC interview, stating, “Treasury secretaries dating back to Alexander Hamilton have a history of dueling.”
A GAO spokesperson told NBC News that determining the scope and methodology of the investigation “can take a few months,” and a completion date has not yet been established.The FHFA has not responded to requests for comment.
