The Senate Intelligence Committee has rescheduled a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton’s nomination as director of national intelligence. The hearing is set for July 15, following a previous postponement.
President Donald Trump initially disrupted the original hearing, scheduled for June 17, due to disagreements with Democrats. Trump insisted that Clayton’s nomination should be paused until James McDonald, Clayton’s proposed successor in New York, has been confirmed. However, McDonald’s nomination has not yet been submitted to the Senate.
Despite the scheduling of a new hearing, the White House has not commented on whether Trump opposes this date. Previously, Trump criticized the rapid progression of Clayton’s hearings and halted them over concerns related to the expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and insufficient support for the SAVE America Act.
While some Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes, have expressed favorable views of Clayton, his nomination remains contentious. Clayton previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission, supported by a Senate vote of 61-37.
Bill Pulte, who succeeded Tulsi Gabbard as acting national intelligence director, lacks a national security background. His appointment has raised concerns among both Democrats and some Republicans. The Democrats’ support for FISA reauthorization partly hinges on Clayton assuming the director role in place of Pulte.