Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence last month.
By Catholics for Catholics
After President Donald Trump faced an uprising from lawmakers over his initial selection for an interim director of national intelligence without any alleged pertinent experience, he said on Thursday that he would nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, to be the next director.
The President had been under pressure to go in another direction from his decision to appoint Bill Pulte, a top housing official, as the acting director, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who announced last month that she would step down from the post, according to a story by The Daily Wire.
Clayton currently serves as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, having previously led the SEC from May 2017 through December 2020 during Trump’s first term.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
President Trump said Bill Pulte will temporarily lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence before Jay Clayton takes over https://t.co/qG6G2j8Ef3 pic.twitter.com/919BSTY800
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 12, 2026
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible,” he added. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Clayton is best recognized for his work in financial regulation, but he at this time supervises one of the nation’s most important federal prosecutors’ offices. During his tenure as U.S. attorney, the Southern District of New York has continued going after high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Last month, Gabbard announced that she would step down from her post to support her husband as he endures treatment for a rare form of bone cancer. She is slated to leave office at the end of June.
Clayton’s selection came after controversy surrounded Trump’s decision to name Pulte as Gabbard’s replacement.
Both Democrats and some Republicans doubted whether Pulte had enough national security experience to head the intel community, while House Democrats cited his appointment as a reason to oppose extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
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