Pulte Out, Clayton In? Trump Announces Another New Pick for DNI

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is nominating US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to be the next director of national intelligence (DNI). “Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” the president wrote on Truth Social. Trump recently tapped Bill Pulte – much to the chagrin of Democrats and even some Republicans – to serve as acting DNI after Tulsi Gabbard revealed plans to resign from the top intelligence role.

Trump urged the Senate to quickly confirm Clayton, and the lawmakers apparently took that message to heart: The Select Committee on Intelligence announced on Thursday that the upper chamber would hold a confirmation hearing for the DNI nominee on June 17.

DNI Pick Gets Bipartisan Support

A former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Clayton received bipartisan support from members of Congress following Trump’s announcement. “I have known and respected Jay Clayton for many years and believe he is a capable public servant,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who also serves as vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said Clayton’s nomination is “seemingly a positive step,” and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) wrote on X that Clayton is “an OUTSTANDING choice” for the position. “Jay is a proven leader with a distinguished record of public service and sound judgment needed to lead our intelligence community,” Tillis continued. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure his swift confirmation.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, echoed his colleagues, praising Clayton’s “great reputation.” Thune said Republican leaders in the upper chamber will work to get Clayton confirmed “as quickly as possible.”

Passed Up Pulte

Trump’s announcement comes just days after the president appointed Pulte to serve as acting DNI beginning June 19, once Tulsi Gabbard leaves the role. Trump spoke highly of his choice for acting DNI, but unlike Clayton, Pulte found himself on the receiving end of criticism emanating from Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters after Clayton’s nomination that Pulte cannot serve as DNI because the position is “too important.” “Doesn’t matter what else they do. Pulte’s got to be gone. He’s still in that role,” Schumer said.

Much of the pushback against Pulte stems from concerns over his lack of national security and intelligence experience – or at least, that’s what many Democrats claim. See, the Trump ally has also been a thorn in the side of left-wing figures. As director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte helped trigger investigations into  New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) over alleged mortgage fraud. Congress also failed to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) – which expires on Friday – largely in protest of Pulte’s appointment.

Trump refused to budge on Pulte, telling reporters at the White House on Thursday that the acting DNI is “only there for a little while; he’s running it for a short while.”

Earlier this week, the president said he tasked Pulte with executing “the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies” – but will the appointee have enough time in the role to carry out the president’s request? Under the Vacancies Act, acting officials can serve for up to 210 days “from when the vacancy occurs or while a nomination is pending in the Senate.” Considering the speed at which Congress – a notoriously slow institution – is moving to confirm Clayton, Pulte may run out of time before he can make any significant changes at the department.