President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has chosen Jay Clayton, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to succeed Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence.
“I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the former Head of Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the most prominent and successful Law Firms anywhere in the World, and the current United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next Director of National Intelligence and, importantly, to serve in my Cabinet,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Clayton, should he be confirmed by the Senate, would replace top housing official Bill Pulte, whose pending appointment as interim director has led to a congressional stalemate over a controversial spy program authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Pulte lacks national security experience, and Democrats are holding up the program’s renewal until he is removed from the post. He is slated to take over for Gabbard next Friday, earlier than Trump initially announced.
The House failed to pass a short-term extension of Section 702 of FISA, which allows foreign surveillance without a warrant, before heading out of town on Thursday. House Democrats helped tank the legislation in a 198-218 vote, virtually guaranteeing the program will lapse on Friday at midnight. So far, Democrats have made clear that Clayton’s nomination does not change their stance on renewing the FISA program.
Immediately, praise for Clayton began to pour in from Republicans, with former Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller writing on X that he had a “GREAT” reputation.
“Absolutely top-shelf. Total winner,” Miller said. “I can’t overstate just how fantastic this pick is!”
Congratulations to current @SDNYnews U.S. Attorney and former @SECGov Chair Jay Clayton for being selected to lead @POTUS @realDonaldTrump’s @ODNIgov!
GREAT reputation. Absolutely top-shelf. Total winner. I can’t overstate just how fantastic this pick is! #MAGA
pic.twitter.com/qY76O9SdO9
— Jason Miller (@JasonMiller) June 11, 2026
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) praised Clayton as “a very qualified professional with a great skill set.” Thune indicated that Clayton is unlikely to be confirmed before Pulte takes over, and House lawmakers are not slated to return from their recess until the week of June 23.
Some Democrats appear to be comfortable with Clayton’s nomination. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) told NBC News that he has “great respect for Jay Clayton.”
But they may take issue with Clayton’s recent comments casting doubt on California’s voting process. “On the integrity side, we’re doing an absolutely terrible job, and the American people are right to question it,” he said of California’s election results on CNBC’s Squawkbox.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) successfully blocked Clayton from a permanent confirmation as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York last year. But federal judges in Manhattan ruled in favor of allowing Clayton to continue serving in the position.
Clayton served as chairman of the SEC from May 2017 to December 2020. Warner is one of three Democrats still serving in the Senate who approved Clayton to that role. The other two are Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
