WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is delaying the nomination of Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence.
The move came hours before Clayton’s scheduled confirmation hearing in the Senate, officials said. Trump cited his desire for Congress to advance a voter identification bill.
Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was nominated by Trump last week to lead the nation’s intelligence community. Bill Pulte, whom Trump had earlier named as acting director, will remain in that role for now, Trump said in a social media post.
“We are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,” Trump wrote. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
The delay follows tensions over the renewal of a key foreign surveillance law that expired recently. Democrats had opposed Pulte’s acting role and linked it to broader disputes over voting legislation.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, a Republican, said the committee would proceed with the hearing unless Trump directed Clayton not to appear or withdrew the nomination.
Clayton previously served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Supporters described him as highly qualified for the intelligence post.
The nomination had drawn bipartisan praise when announced. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Clayton an “excellent choice” with strong experience in both public service and the private sector.
No immediate comment was available from Clayton or the White House on next steps. Officials said the administration continues to support the nomination but is using the delay to press for progress on the voter ID measure.
The Senate had been preparing to consider the nomination amid ongoing debates over election integrity and national security priorities. Details on when the hearing might be rescheduled remained unclear.
