- 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. His nomination will require Senate approval.
- Trump's announcement comes after controversy over his recent appointment of top federal housing official Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence, to replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
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 officia
l 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.
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."
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.<small>Source: CNBC</small>
Business
Trump picks former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as national intelligence director
CNBC
June 11, 2026
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