WASHINGTON – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has launched a formal investigation into Federal Housing Finance agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte following concerns raised over his handling of mortgage-fraud referrals, according to a letter obtained by CNN. The probe comes after a group of Senate Democrats requested the GAO examine whether Pulte improperly used FHFA resources to challenge investigations into Rep. Eric Swalwell’s mortgage.
The investigation will detail any changes Pulte has made to FHFA’s standard mortgage-fraud procedures as his confirmation and seek to determine how he accessed information to publicly question the referrals. The senators’ concerns center on whether official FHFA resources – including staff time, government communications systems, and privileged data – were utilized in Pulte’s actions. This scrutiny arrives amid heightened debate over the independence of federal agencies and the potential for political interference in investigations.
Last month, Swalwell was referred to the Justice Department regarding the mortgage matter, prompting the Democrats’ call for a GAO review. The senators’ letter stated, “Mr. Pulte’s actions demand scrutiny,” questioning why he made the claims he did and how he obtained the information.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended Pulte on Thursday, calling him one of President Trump’s ”most loyal and critically important advisors.” Cheung dismissed the scrutiny as “a pathetic attempt to distract away from all of the victories being delivered for the american people,” asserting Pulte is “fully committed to the America First agenda.”
The GAO, an autonomous, nonpartisan agency that supports Congress, will now investigate the allegations, possibly impacting the FHFA’s procedures and raising questions about the boundaries between political loyalty and the impartial administration of federal housing policy. Board governor Lisa Cook was also mentioned in related coverage.
