By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-11 18:58:39 | Updated at 2026-06-12 06:29:11
11 hours ago
Donald Trump has nominated the former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission to lead the nation's top intelligence agency after Republicans were stunned by his previous pick.
The President announced that he nominated former SEC boss Jay Clayton to become the next Director of National Intelligence.
'I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton ... to be the next Director of National Intelligence and, importantly, to serve in my Cabinet,' Trump posted on social media Thursday afternoon.
Clayton previously served as the head of Sullivan & Cromwell 'one of the most prominent and successful Law Firms anywhere in the World,' Trump wrote.
Clayton currently serves as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
'Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible,' Trump's post continued.
The announcement came after Trump's allies and critics in Congress were shocked over his interim selection to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Bill Pulte, who oversees federal housing finance.
Republicans in Congress were in open revolt over the selection of Pulte because he had no discernible previous experience with national intelligence.
Their outrage, combined with widespread Democratic opposition to Pulte, came to a head this week when a group of House conservatives sided with liberals to reject a proposal to extend a controversial surveillance measure.
Former SEC boss and US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton was nominated by Trump on Thursday to become the next Director of National Intelligence
Clayton will replace Tulsi Gabbard as DNI after she announced she was stepping away from the role to tend to her husband, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte (L) was named by Trump as acting DNI amid Gabbard's departure. Pulte's elevation to the role by Trump concerned both Democratic and Republican lawmakers because he has no prior intelligence experience
Section 702, a provision that allows government surveillance on domestic communications with certain foreign nationals, is set to expire on Friday unless a deal is reached.
Democrats have demanded that Pulte's tenure as ODNI boss not move forward as a part of any deal to renew Section 702.
Trump's announcement that Clayton will now serve as DNI shows the White House was listening to those demands.
'Outstanding choice by President Trump to nominate Jay Clayton to be the new Director of National Intelligence,' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, wrote on social media.
'He has real-world experience, the complete confidence of the President and has performed every task in the public and private sectors in an exemplary manner.'
Some Democrats also seemed on board with the new selection for DNI.
'I have great respect for Jay Clayton,' Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters.
This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated.
