Trump nominates Jay Clayton as US Director of National Intelligence

President Donald Trump has nominated Jay Clayton for the role of Director of National Intelligence, urging the United States Senate to expedite his confirmation.

The President announced Clayton’s appointment in a Truth Social post on Thursday. He is the incumbent U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

During Trump’s first term, 59-year-old Clayton served as the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from May 4, 2017, until December 23, 2020.

The President earlier this month named Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard signaled her intent to leave the administration at the end of June.

But Pulte’s selection faced pushback because he has no national security background. The businessman has been the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency since March 2025.

House Democrats flatly rejected Pulte and insisted they would not support a short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act if he stays on as acting DNI.

Developed after 9/11, the intelligence tool permits the United States government to conduct surveillance of non-U.S. persons located outside the homeland.

The National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation can compel domestic tech companies to turn over requested phone calls, emails, and text messages.