Clayton to take over as US intelligence chief Monday, Pulte says

Jay Clayton will officially assume the role of Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Monday, according to a social media post by acting DNI Bill Pulte. The transition follows Clayton's confirmation by US Senate Republicans earlier this week, a process marked by opposition from Democrats.

Clayton, who previously served as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, will now oversee the nation's 18 intelligence agencies. He steps into a position vacated in June by Tulsi Gabbard, whose tenure was characterized by disputes with congressional Democrats who accused her of aligning with President Donald Trump's political agenda and promoting unsubstantiated election claims.

During his confirmation hearings, Clayton drew criticism from Democrats for his repeated refusal to directly acknowledge that Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden. Additionally, Democrats raised concerns about his qualifications, citing a perceived lack of national security expertise for the high-level intelligence role. Pulte, who also serves as Trump's Federal Housing Finance Agency director, had ordered layoffs of intelligence staff after taking over the interim intelligence position in June.

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the DNI transition will take place this coming Monday.