The Senate will begin voting as early as Monday evening on Jay Clayton, Donald Trump's nomination for director of national intelligence, with approval expected within days despite a contentious confirmation hearing.
Clayton, the Manhattan US attorney, would oversee the nation's 18 intelligence agencies if confirmed by a simple majority. The position was created following the September 11 attacks to coordinate the sprawling US intelligence apparatus.
Trump's Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the 100-member chamber and have rarely broken ranks with the White House. Senators are widely expected to provide Clayton with the votes needed for confirmation.
The procedural vote Monday night will determine whether the nomination advances to a full floor vote later in the week. If Clayton clears the procedural hurdle, final confirmation is expected to follow shortly.
The vacancy Clayton would fill opened in June when Tulsi Gabbard stepped down as director of national intelligence. Her tenure was marked by clashes with congressional Democrats, who accused her of advancing Trump's political agenda and promoting debunked election claims.
Many senators are eager to move past the interim leadership of Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, who currently holds the role. Pulte is a Trump loyalist without national security experience who has been cutting staff at the intelligence agency, drawing criticism from lawmakers hungry for experienced leadership in the position.
Author James Rodriguez: "Clayton's expected confirmation won't solve the underlying problem of politicization at the intelligence helm, but at least the Senate seems ready to move past the revolving door."
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