President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning announced that he is putting the brakes on Jay Clayton’s nomination to become Director of National Intelligence, linking the confirmation to congressional action on key surveillance and voting legislation. The move keeps acting DNI Bill Pulte in place and throws the nomination process into uncertainty.
Clayton, a former federal prosecutor, was tapped by Trump to ease concerns from lawmakers that acting DNI Bill Pulte lacked the necessary qualifications and had allegedly used his position as a top housing official to target the president’s political rivals. Democrats had signaled they would block reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—a warrantless spying authority that expired Friday—with Pulte at the helm.
Clayton was scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday afternoon for further consideration of his nomination. But Trump, in an early morning Truth Social post, scrapped that hearing, declaring it would not proceed until Congress approves what he called crucial legislation.
“Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,” Trump wrote. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
The president accused Republican lawmakers of falling into a “trap” set by Democrats, who he said “broke the Deal” by refusing to remove Pulte and failing to approve the surveillance authority. “Therefore, to add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” Trump posted, referencing his voter ID bill that he has called his top legislative priority. That legislation is seen as a key part of Trump’s push for stricter election rules.
The president also took aim at the Senate’s slow pace in confirming Jamie McDonald to replace Clayton as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Trump has been a vocal critic of the blue slip policy, a Senate Judiciary Committee tradition that allows home-state senators to block judicial nominees. “Because of the ridiculous views of Republicans on blue slipping (Dumocrats are often willing to nix it), I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place,” the president wrote.
The delay comes amid broader tensions over intelligence leadership and surveillance powers. Trump has previously warned that the Iran nuclear deal is not final and threatened resumed strikes, while the DNI nomination remains on hold. The administration’s approach to foreign policy and domestic surveillance continues to draw scrutiny from both parties.
Clayton’s nomination had been seen as a compromise to address bipartisan concerns about Pulte’s tenure. With the hearing canceled, the path forward for the DNI role remains unclear. Trump’s demand for the Save America Act alongside FISA reauthorization sets up a legislative standoff that could further delay the confirmation process.
The move highlights the president’s willingness to leverage nominations to extract policy concessions, a tactic that has become a hallmark of his political strategy. As acting DNI, Pulte will continue to oversee the intelligence community, a position that has drawn criticism for its lack of confirmed leadership.
