The Government Accountability Office confirmed Thursday that it has launched an investigation into Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, following complaints about his actions targeting perceived opponents of President Trump. The inquiry comes amid reports that Pulte is also involved in a grand jury probe related to multiple mortgage fraud investigations conducted under his direction this year.
A GAO spokesperson said the office received a request to examine Pulte’s conduct and accepted it, noting that the process follows standard procedures. “The first thing GAO does as any work begins is to determine the full scope of what we will cover and the methodology to be used. This can take a few months, and until that is done, we cannot provide any estimates on a completion date,” the office said in a statement. The probe was prompted by a Nov. 17 request from eight Senate Democrats, who asked the GAO to review how the FHFA conducts mortgage fraud investigations and any changes Pulte had made to those procedures. The FHFA declined to comment.
As the nation’s top housing regulator, Pulte has repeatedly accused Trump administration rivals of mortgage fraud, waste, and other misconduct. He has also been a persistent critic of the Federal Reserve, calling on Chair Jerome Powell to resign and accusing Fed Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud—a claim that led to the firing of a top central banker and a legal battle now set to be heard by the Supreme Court next year. Pulte has leveled similar accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Senator Adam Schiff.
Despite his aggressive stance, Pulte has clashed with some senior officials. Reports indicate he had disagreements with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who accused him of “badmouthing him to Trump.” He also faced criticism for promoting the idea of a 50-year mortgage to improve affordability, a plan that critics said would lower monthly payments while increasing overall costs to borrowers.
The GAO has not indicated how long the investigation will take, noting that its multi-step process—including defining scope, methodology, and reviews—can take several months before conclusions are reached.