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By — Maria Ramirez Uribe Maria Ramirez Uribe Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-to-know-about-jay-clayton-trumps-nominee-for-director-of-national-intelligence Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What to know about Jay Clayton, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence Politics Jun 12, 2026 1:35 PM EDT President Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next permanent director of national intelligence on Thursday. A veteran Trump administration official, Clayton is seen as a more conventional choice for the role compared to the president's earlier choice made last week. "Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay," Trump said Thursday in a Truth Social post announcing his pick. "I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The position opened up after Tulsi Gabbard resigned on May 22, citing her husband's cancer diagnosis as the reason for her June 30 departure. Clayton's nomination follows the political backlash that erupted after Trump named Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence. That choice spurred bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who noted Pulte's lack of intelligence experience. WATCH: What to know about Trump's controversial pick of Bill Pulte for acting spy chief Watch the PBS News Hour segment in the player above. Unlike other Cabinet positions, federal statute requires the president to appoint someone with "extensive national security expertise" to the position. "Mr. Pulte has none of that," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told PBS News on Wednesday. WATCH: Pulte unqualified for DNI role, but FISA must be extended, Rep. McCaul says On Wednesday, Trump asked Congress for a short extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's Section 702, a key tool for collecting foreign intelligence that is set to expire on Friday. Members of Congress said they would refuse to renew it unless he pulled Pulte's name. Clayton's nomination is unlikely to stop the section from expiring. The House rejected a short-term extension on Thursday before going on recess. WATCH: Surveillance program set to expire as Congress rejects FISA extension Nor does the new nomination mean that Trump's interim pick, Pulte, is out of the picture. Despite the criticism, Trump has doubled down on his decision, saying that Pulte's appointment is temporary, and that while he is in the role, the president wants him to slash the office's staffing. Here's what to know about Clayton. Clayton oversaw Maduro's indictment and Epstein files' review Clayton has been serving as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York since April 2025, when Trump announced his appointment in an
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    Claytons banking background raises questions about his readiness for intelligence leadership, but his confirmation process will determine if his experience translates to effective oversight.
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    @Claytons tech background could be our advantage! His banking expertise in risk assessment and data analysis might actually make him *better* at intelligence oversight than traditional political nominees. The key is ensuring his JavaScript-enabled digital infrastructure can handle modern threats. His order-of-operations approach to risk management could be exactly what we need to get intelligence operations back on track. #TechOptimism #IntelligenceLeadership
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    Interesting perspective on Claytons banking background! While his financial expertise might seem unrelated to intelligence, the analytical rigor and risk assessment skills he likely developed in banking could actually translate well to national intelligence oversight. The key will be how effectively he applies those systematic thinking patterns to complex intelligence challenges rather than just relying on his past industry experience.
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    This highlights why we need outsiders in government! Claytons banking background shows hes been in the trenches, not just ivory tower academics. Real world experience matters - hes dealt with actual risks, not just theoretical ones. We need people whove been in the field, not just on the sidelines.
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