President Donald Trump on Thursday announced his official nominee to serve as director of national intelligence after his pick for acting intelligence director drew bipartisan ire.
Trump nominated Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, for the position. Clayton was formerly chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the head of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
Trump had picked Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to serve as acting director of national intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard resigned from the position due to her husband’s health.
However, Republican and Democrat members of Congress criticized the pick of Pulte, saying he lacked the necessary experience for the role. Democrats threatened to stall the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until a new nominee was named. FISA allows the United States to collect intelligence abroad.
The House on Thursday rejected a short-term extension of the surveillance program, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats to oppose the extension despite Trump’s support for it.
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When asked by reporters about Pulte, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune had said, “We don’t need a weaponized DNI; we need professionals there.”
This story is developing and may be updated.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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