President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will nominate Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence. Hours after House Democrats objected to Trump’s next acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pelt confirmed that a key national security tool would expire this week.
Mr. Clayton is currently the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and is a former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He must be confirmed as DNI by the Senate.
President Trump’s surprise announcement comes more than a week after controversy over the appointment of Pulte, the head of the federal housing authority, to replace current DNI Tulsi Gabbard when she retires.
President Trump said Wednesday that Pruitt will assume the role on June 19 as he searches for a permanent DNI.
Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks at a press conference on December 10, 2025, in New York City, USA.
Gina Moon | Reuters
The DNI oversees the broader U.S. intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
Hours before Trump’s announcement, the House of Representatives last Friday rejected a proposal to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after Democrats refused to support the bill, citing Trump’s choice of Mr. Pulte.
House members left Washington, D.C., after voting 198-218 against the extension and are not scheduled to return to the Capitol until June 23.
In a post on Truth Social announcing his nomination, Trump called Creighton “highly respected.”
“Few people anywhere in the legal profession are more respected than Jay,” President Trump wrote.
“I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, told reporters that Creighton has a “high reputation” and that Republican Senate leaders will work to secure his confirmation “as soon as possible.”
Asked if Clayton’s confirmation was a realistic possibility before Pruitt takes over as acting DNI next week, Thune said, “I don’t know what is realistic, but we’re going to explore the limits of that.”
Thune said he was not informed by the White House of Creighton’s nomination before Trump’s announcement.
“I have great respect for Jay Clayton,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
But Mr. Warner questioned why Mr. Trump delayed Mr. Clayton’s nomination, even though it was known that the extension of FISA Section 702 was in jeopardy with Mr. Pruitt’s appointment.
“I have no idea why he waited until the House collapsed,” Warner said.
“If the White House had any serious concerns about this, they’ve already left town,” Warner said.
“Bill Pelt is a national security threat,” he said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., echoed Warner’s sentiments, calling Creighton’s selection “on the face of it a positive step.”
“But the president’s timing couldn’t have been worse,” Blumenthal said. “We’re literally waiting until everyone leaves town and there’s no chance of us moving forward with FISA until next week.”
“It’s completely unclear why Creighton wasn’t nominated in the first place,” Blumenthal said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York did not comment directly on Creighton’s appointment, but told reporters it was important that Pruitt not serve as DNI.
“The DNI’s role is extremely important,” Schumer said. “He’s not supposed to be there. No ifs, or buts.”
“It doesn’t matter what else they do. Pulte has to go. He’s still in that role,” Schumer said.
—MS NOW and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins and Karen Sloan contributed to this article.
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