Trump nominates Jay Clayton to be next intelligence chief

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he is nominating federal prosecutor Jay Clayton to be the next director of national intelligence, following pushback from U.S. lawmakers over his pick to fill the role temporarily.

"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," Trump said in Truth Social post.

Clayton is currently U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Trump said loyalist and head of the federal housing agency Bill Pulte would take over as acting director on June 19 to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned effective June 30.

Pulte's appointment sparked a political standoff that has derailed renewal of an expiring surveillance law.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a short-term extension of foreign surveillance powers sought by Trump.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Katharine Jackson)

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 11:19 AM.