WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be the next director of national intelligence, the White House said.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, describing Clayton as highly respected in the legal community. The nomination comes after congressional pushback against Bill Pulte serving in an acting capacity, which contributed to the expiration of certain foreign intelligence surveillance authorities.
“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. “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.”
Clayton, who served as SEC chairman from 2017 to 2020 during Trump’s first term, became U.S. attorney in Manhattan in April 2025. He would succeed Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month, if confirmed by the Senate.
The move follows controversy over Pulte’s brief tenure as acting director. Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience, leading to a standoff that affected efforts to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Clayton has a background in securities law and financial regulation but limited direct experience in intelligence matters, according to public records. Supporters, including some Republican senators, have praised his legal expertise and prosecutorial experience in handling complex cases, including those involving national security.
Critics have questioned the choice, noting the absence of traditional intelligence community credentials for the role, which oversees 18 intelligence agencies. Details on Clayton’s potential priorities for the position remained unclear as of Friday.
The Senate is expected to consider the nomination in the coming weeks. Trump urged swift confirmation to restore stability at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
As of Friday, the White House had not released additional details on the timeline for hearings or a potential confirmation vote. Clayton has not publicly commented on the nomination. Officials said the acting leadership structure would remain in place pending Senate action.
The development comes amid ongoing national security challenges, including those related to recent international conflicts. Further statements from lawmakers and the administration were anticipated in the coming days.
