The announcement follows Trump’s decision to nominate an ally and political attack dog to serve as acting director. The pick sparked a backlash that doomed efforts to renew a key intelligence tool.
President Trump on Thursday named Jay Clayton, a federal prosecutor and former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to serve as director of national intelligence.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social announcing the nomination. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Clayton’s selection follows Trump’s decision to nominate Bill Pulte, a close ally and political attack dog, to serve as acting director of national intelligence. The appointment sparked a political backlash that doomed efforts in Congress to renew a crucial intelligence tool before it expires on Friday.
Pulte’s appointment has scrambled talks to renew a spy tool known as FISA 702, as lawmakers in both parties have been vocal about his lack of national security experience and role as a Trump loyalist.
The appointment last week of Pulte, the 38-year-old director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, roiled congressional negotiations around section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, one of the nation’s most important surveillance tools.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is responsible for a huge share of intel collected by the U.S. Lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are worried it enables warrantless spying on U.S. citizens.
Pulte was appointed despite any experience in national security, and his selection drew concerns from Democrats about the risk of sensitive intelligence being weaponized against the president’s perceived political rivals.
Still, Clayton’s nomination will not be enough to keep the FISA 702 program from expiring Friday. On Thursday, the House failed in its effort to pass a three-week extension of the program and left Washington for a scheduled recess.
They are set to return to Washington the week of June 22.
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