Trump's new spy chief confirmed by US Senate
Jay Clayton's confirmation comes after the US president's original choice was rejected by lawmakers due to lack of relevant experience
The US Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton as the new director of national intelligence (DNI), following the rejection of President Donald Trump's initial nominee by legislators.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved Clayton's appointment with a 51-47 vote, succeeding Bill Pulte, who had been serving as acting DNI. Pulte, Trump's original choice, faced criticism due to his background as a housing official with no prior experience in national intelligence.
Clayton previously held the position of US attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he oversaw high-profile cases, including the drug trafficking charges against former Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro.
"Jay is outstanding in every way, and will do a spectacular job as Director!" Trump posted on Truth Social after the confirmation.
Clayton, who also has experience as a securities regulator and federal prosecutor, takes over from Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month, with Pulte temporarily filling the role.
Pulte's initial appointment in early June raised concerns across both political parties. As a Trump loyalist, he used his authority as a federal housing regulator to refer several of the president's political adversaries for potential prosecution and oversaw significant staff reductions.
Shortly before the vote on Clayton's appointment, Pulte posted on X about the staffing cuts, stating, "we are, this morning, executing a 5th and near final round of terminations, an approximately 30% staff reduction from weeks ago."
Following the alarm raised by Pulte's appointment in June, Trump announced Clayton as his replacement nominee, prompting senators to expedite his confirmation process.
However, Clayton's initial appearance before the Senate intelligence committee, scheduled for June 17, was canceled by Trump, who attributed the cancellation to lawmakers for allowing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to expire.
Democrats initially welcomed Clayton as a more conventional nominee compared to Pulte, though their stance appeared to shift during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
During the hearing, Clayton was repeatedly questioned about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, to which he responded that former Democratic president Joe Biden had been "certified" as the winner. "I'm not an election denier," Clayton assured senators.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat and Vice-Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, later expressed "serious reservations about whether he would be willing to stand up to political pressure" after Clayton's hearing.
"I sincerely hope he proves those concerns unfounded, because the Intelligence Community deserves steadier leadership than it has received in recent months," Warner stated.
Clayton's confirmation could potentially revitalize congressional discussions regarding Section 702 of FISA. This legislation permits the US government to collect communications involving foreign individuals abroad without individual warrants, and Trump has been advocating for its long-term renewal.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, commented on Monday, "I hope [Clayton's appointment] will encourage my colleagues to stop blocking reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."