President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence, elevating the former securities regulator and current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to one of the government's most sensitive posts.
Trump announced the pick on Truth Social, calling Clayton "very Highly Respected" and urging the Senate to "confirm Jay as soon as possible." The president highlighted Clayton's resume: former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term, former partner at the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell, and his current role as federal prosecutor for New York's major financial hub.
Clayton's appointment to U.S. Attorney stalled in the Senate last year, forcing a federal judge to place him in the position. During Trump's first administration, however, the chamber confirmed him as SEC chair by a 61-37 vote.
The nomination marks Trump's effort to fill a role that has become unexpectedly volatile. He named Bill Pulte as acting DNI earlier this month after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down citing her husband's cancer diagnosis. Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, drew immediate criticism for lacking any national security background. His appointment as acting DNI created enough friction in Congress that House Democrats blocked a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on Thursday, objecting to Pulte's oversight of a provision allowing warrantless surveillance of foreign targets abroad.
The White House said Pulte would assume the acting role on June 19. It remains unclear whether Pulte will remain in that capacity while Clayton awaits Senate confirmation, or whether he will step aside entirely.
Trump had indicated he was interviewing five candidates for the permanent post and suggested Pulte would serve only temporarily. The backlash over Pulte's selection, combined with real procedural obstacles in Congress, appears to have accelerated the timeline for announcing a permanent replacement.
Clayton's background in financial regulation and law carries different weight than Pulte's record in real estate and housing policy. His Senate confirmation hearing could center on his prosecutorial record and views on intelligence matters, rather than his lack of prior security credentials. The former SEC chair will also face questions about his time leading the agency during Trump's first term, when the SEC faced accusations of reduced regulatory enforcement.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Clayton checks boxes that Pulte never could, but his confirmation won't be automatic."
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