Trump nominates Jay Clayton as US intelligence chief ahead of FISA deadline

President Donald Trump announced the nomination of former SEC chairman Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The move comes hours before the July 2 deadline for the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the key legal authority that permits U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of non‑U.S. persons abroad.

Clayton, a former securities regulator, Sullivan & Cromwell partner and current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, has no prior intelligence experience. He replaces Bill Pulte, a housing‑finance executive whose nomination was withdrawn after Republican and Democratic criticism that he lacked national‑security credentials and was seen as a loyalist. The House failed to secure a two‑thirds majority to extend Section 702, leaving the law to expire at midnight on Friday unless Congress acts quickly. Clayton’s confirmation now requires Senate approval, but many Senators have expressed concerns about his suitability and the political timing of the nomination.