President Trump Nominates Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence

President Donald Trump announced on June 11, 2026, that he is nominating Jay Clayton to become the next permanent Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Clayton is currently the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and previously served as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. His nomination requires confirmation by the Senate. This announcement follows controversy surrounding Trump's recent appointment of Bill Pulte as acting DNI, a role he will assume on June 19, 2026, as Tulsi Gabbard departs from the position. The DNI oversees the U.S. intelligence community, which includes the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Earlier on the same day, the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act due to opposition from Democrats related to Trump's choice of Pulte. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Clayton as 'very highly respected' and urged the Senate to confirm him promptly.