Trump Delays Jay Clayton DNI Confirmation Hearing Over U.S. Attorney Nomination

Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as director of national intelligence, had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing. The hearing was intended to address the expired reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. President Trump stated early Wednesday that the hearing would not proceed until the Senate confirms Jamie McDonald as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

McDonald was selected to succeed Clayton in that position. In a post on Truth Social at 3:54 a.m., Trump wrote that he did not want to remove Clayton from his current role until McDonald is installed. Bill Pulte will continue as acting director of national intelligence in the interim.

The Senate Intelligence Committee had not issued a public statement on next steps by midday Wednesday. Clayton’s scheduled appearance was set for 2 p.m. The change affects an earlier Republican effort to confirm Clayton by Thursday, which would have prevented Pulte from assuming the acting role on Friday under existing authorities. Democrats had conditioned support for Section 702 reauthorization on the removal of Pulte, whom they described as too closely aligned with the administration.

Trump’s statement also addressed the Senate blue-slip process for McDonald’s nomination. He noted that the practice, under which home-state senators can signal opposition to nominees, could affect McDonald’s prospects. Clayton’s departure from the U.S. attorney post remains tied to McDonald’s confirmation.

Senate Democrats had previously indicated that their position on Clayton’s nomination would be informed by his performance at the hearing. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated Tuesday that members were awaiting the hearing and would decide afterward. Democrats have raised questions about the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files by Clayton’s office and about remarks Clayton made regarding the 2025 Los Angeles mayoral election.

Clayton has received support from some members of both parties for his prior service as Securities and Exchange Commission chairman during Trump’s first term. He met with senators on the intelligence committee as recently as Tuesday. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said the committee would examine whether Clayton understood the fact-based requirements of the intelligence role and noted sympathy for expediting confirmation due to the lapse of Section 702 authorities.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was established after the September 11 attacks to coordinate the 18 agencies that comprise the intelligence community. The director serves as the president’s principal intelligence adviser.

Republicans have argued that quick confirmation of Clayton would allow the Senate to address the lapsed surveillance provisions before members depart for the week. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) stated that earlier confirmation could reduce risks associated with the expiration of collection authorities, citing upcoming events including the World Cup as potential security concerns. Some lawmakers from both parties have previously discussed reducing the size of the ODNI or eliminating the office, though no legislation has advanced on that question.

It remains unclear whether the committee will reschedule Clayton’s hearing or alter the confirmation timeline in response to the president’s statement. The blue-slip objection to McDonald has not been formally resolved.