Trump Selects Jay Clayton for Director of National Intelligence

President Trump announced his selection of Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence. Clayton previously headed the Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump's administration.

The nomination represents Trump's second choice for the position. His initial selection for acting director encountered significant opposition in Congress, which led to the withdrawal of that nominee. The earlier nomination also prevented the reauthorization of a surveillance tool that intelligence agencies had sought to renew.

Clayton served as SEC chairman from 2017 to 2020, overseeing the federal agency responsible for regulating securities markets and enforcing securities laws. Before his tenure at the SEC, Clayton worked as a corporate attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell.

The director of national intelligence position ranks among the highest in the U.S. intelligence community. The director oversees the coordination of intelligence operations across multiple federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Clayton's nomination requires Senate confirmation. The Senate Intelligence Committee conducts hearings and reviews nominees for the position before the full chamber votes on the appointment.