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President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he is nominating Jay Clayton to become the next permanent director of national intelligence.
Clayton is currently the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and is the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He will have to be confirmed as DNI by the Senate.
Trump’s announcement comes after controversy over his recent appointment of top federal housing official Bill Pulte to serve as acting DNI, to replace Tulsi Gabbard as she leaves that post. Trump on Wednesday said that Pulte would assume that role on June 19 as he looked for a permanent DNI.
Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks during a press conference in New York City, U.S., December 10, 2025.
Jeenah Moon | Reuters
The DNI oversees the broad U.S. intelligence community, which includes the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
Hours before Trump’s announcement, the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key national security tool, past Friday because Democrats refused to back the measure due to Trump’s choice of Pulte.
Trump called Clayton “very Highly respected” in a Truth Social post announcing the nomination.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump wrote.
“I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
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