President Donald Trump has put forward Jay Clayton, currently serving as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to take over as the permanent director of national intelligence. Clayton, a seasoned member of the Trump administration, is considered a more conventional choice compared to the president’s previous nominee.
Trump praised Clayton in a Truth Social post, emphasizing his high standing within the legal community. The president urged the Senate to confirm Clayton promptly.
The opportunity arose after Tulsi Gabbard resigned from the position, citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis. Her resignation became effective on June 30. Clayton’s nomination follows backlash over Trump’s earlier selection of Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency head, as acting director. Pulte faced bipartisan criticism due to his lack of experience in intelligence.
Unlike other Cabinet roles, this position requires the appointee to have substantial national security expertise. Congressman Michael McCaul emphasized Pulte’s lack of such qualifications. Trump also asked Congress to temporarily extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702, crucial for gathering foreign intelligence, which was set to expire.
Despite Clayton’s nomination, Trump maintained that Pulte’s appointment is temporary. Lawmakers indicated the section would remain expired. Clayton’s background includes overseeing the indictment of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro on drug charges and handling files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Clayton has previously served as the chair of the SEC during Trump’s first term.
In a CNBC interview, Clayton expressed concerns about election integrity, criticizing California’s voting laws. His comments echoed Trump’s unfounded claims about voter fraud. Outgoing director Gabbard had recently attended an FBI search related to election discrepancies in Georgia, requested by Trump.
The Senate must approve Clayton’s nomination for him to assume the new role. Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, praised the choice, advocating for a quick confirmation. Democrats, however, remained focused on the issue of Pulte’s interim position.
Trump later reiterated his decision that Pulte would temporarily run the office, highlighting Pulte’s intelligence and temporary tenure.
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