Trump Replaces Pulte, Names Jay Clayton as New DNI

In a move meant to pacify congressional Democrats and unstick Republican policy priorities, President Donald Trump has named US Attorney Jay Clayton as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Therese Boudreaux reported for the Center Square.

Jay Clayton, former SEC chair, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Director of National Intelligence. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)

The pick follows Trump’s controversial decision last week to temporarily fill the position of DNI with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, who has no apparent national security or intelligence experience but is a staunch supporter of the president.

While Clayton’s career has focused largely on financial regulation rather than national security, he is expected to face less pushback from lawmakers than Pulte did.

Clayton chaired the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 2017 to 2020.

He became chairman of private equity firm Apollo Global Management in March 2021 and resigned in 2025 to serve as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

But Trump’s olive branch arrived too late to salvage Republican congressional leaders’ last-ditch attempts to prevent Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) from expiring Friday night.

All but seven House Democrats voted against a three-week extension of FISA Section 702. Since 19 privacy-wary House Republicans also opposed the extension, it failed 198–218, and both chambers of Congress left town.

Democrats had warned they would refuse to extend the federal government’s authority to conduct mass electronic surveillance unless Trump removed Pulte from his new position.