WASHINGTON — A top intelligence appointment that President Trump is considering for a billionaire investor and prominent supporter could be only a short-term one, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Trump has long considered the investor Stephen A. Feinberg, whose company owns a prominent private military contractor, for a senior role in the intelligence community, installing a top supporter into a world the president views with deep skepticism. Although the effort to find a post for him seemed to have foundered in recent weeks, it has regained momentum, according to four of the people.

Though the president could nominate Mr. Feinberg to the No. 2 post at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, an acting appointment to another senior job there that does not require Senate confirmation is more likely, according to administration officials.

Still, any appointment could be brief. Mr. Trump’s nominee to be the director of national intelligence, Representative John Ratcliffe of Texas, has been promised the latitude to put in his own team, and that would not include Mr. Feinberg, according to two people briefed on Mr. Ratcliffe’s plans.