But the potential White House role for Feinberg follows intense speculation among intelligence professionals that Feinberg is in line for a powerful position within the intelligence community.

Coats is especially angry at what he sees as a move by Bannon and Kushner to sideline him before he is even confirmed, according to current and former officials. He believes the review would impinge on a central part of his role as the director of national intelligence and fears that if Feinberg were working at the White House, he could quickly become a dominant voice on intelligence matters.

Michael V. Hayden, a retired general who ran the CIA and the National Security Agency during President George W. Bush’s administration, said it was hard to wrap his head around “the idea of a DNI nominee in the confirmation process while others consider retooling the position.”

“I think I’d be concerned too,” he said.

The challenge is less immediate for Pompeo. He does not see an urgent need for a review of the intelligence community, according to current and former U.S. officials, but sees it as better than the appointment of Feinberg to a job with actual authority over daily intelligence operations.