Trump Delays Clayton DNI Hearing Until McDonald Confirmed as US Attorney

President Trump announced early Wednesday that the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Jay Clayton’s nomination to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence would not proceed as scheduled. The move keeps Bill Pulte, currently director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, in place as acting DNI.

Trump stated on Truth Social that the hearing would remain on hold until Jamie McDonald, his nominee to succeed Clayton as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, receives Senate confirmation. Clayton currently holds that prosecutorial post. Pulte is set to assume the acting DNI role on June 19.

The president tied the delay to stalled negotiations over reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lapsed the previous week. Trump wrote that Senate Republicans had moved too quickly on Clayton’s nomination, removing leverage to secure Democratic support for FISA renewal in exchange for sidelining Pulte. He added that FISA reauthorization would not advance without inclusion of the Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and photo identification for voter registration.

Pulte lacks national security or intelligence experience. Democrats and some Republicans had objected to his interim appointment, citing both his background and past public statements targeting figures viewed as political opponents by the administration. Clayton’s nomination had been positioned by supporters as a way to install a permanent DNI before Pulte’s acting authority took effect.

Trump also noted that McDonald requires a blue slip from New York’s Democratic senators before confirmation can advance. Clayton had been scheduled to appear before the committee Wednesday afternoon.