Trump picks top Manhattan federal prosecutor as next intelligence chief

President Donald Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, to serve as the next director of national intelligence. This move appears intended to quell a political firestorm surrounding his initial choice for the interim role, Bill Pulte, who is described as a staunch Trump loyalist with no national security background.

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Pulte has to go. He cannot be in the DNI role. Our national security is too important.

The nomination comes as Democrats have threatened to block the renewal of a critical foreign surveillance program, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that Pulte must be removed from the acting director position, stating, "Our national security is too important."

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He’s only there for a little while, he’s running it for a short while, while we get a very talented person, Jay Clayton.

Trump announced Clayton's nomination on social media, urging swift Senate confirmation. He indicated that Pulte would only serve temporarily while a "very talented person, Jay Clayton," was vetted. Clayton, a former lawyer specializing in mergers and capital raising, previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term, where he was known for a moderate approach.

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Before the Senate can take up a FISA extension there needs to be a clear guarantee that Mr. Pulte will not serve as acting DNI.

While many lawmakers welcomed Clayton's nomination, top Democrats, including Senator Mark Warner, reiterated their stance. They stated that the Senate would not consider extending FISA without a firm guarantee that Pulte would not continue as acting DNI. Warner described Clayton as "a capable public servant," but maintained the condition for the surveillance program's renewal.

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a capable public servant.