U.S. Senate confirms Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence

Published Jul 29, 01:17 AM UTC

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as President Donald Trump's second permanent Director of National Intelligence in a 51-47 vote, replacing acting director Bill Pulte. Clayton, a former SEC chairman and current U.S. attorney, will oversee the 18-agency intelligence community. His confirmation ends Pulte's six-week tenure marked by staff cuts and accusations of politicization. Democrats initially saw Clayton as a stabilizing force but turned against him after he declined to affirm that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Clayton also faced scrutiny over subpoenas issued to New York Times journalists regarding Air Force One security reporting. His arrival may revive negotiations on Section 702 of FISA, which lapsed in June due to Democratic opposition tied to Pulte's leadership. Clayton emphasized linking economic security to national security, drawing on his financial markets experience.