Jay Clayton is set to take charge of the nation’s intelligence system after winning Senate approval Tuesday. His confirmation came on a 51-47 vote, with Republicans supporting him and Democrats opposing the nomination.
The vote ends Bill Pulte’s temporary time in the position. Pulte had been placed in the job after Tulsi Gabbard left last month, but his selection quickly caused concern on Capitol Hill because his previous government work was focused on housing rather than national security.
Clayton comes to the position with a different background. He has served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and previously worked as a federal prosecutor and securities regulator. During his time in New York, his office handled major cases, including the drug trafficking prosecution involving former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump announced Clayton as his nominee in June after lawmakers raised objections to Pulte remaining in the intelligence post. At first, Clayton appeared likely to receive a faster and less contentious confirmation, with Democrats seeing him as a more traditional candidate for the job.
That changed as senators examined his nomination more closely. A hearing planned for June 17 was canceled by Trump during a dispute with lawmakers over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, delaying Clayton’s appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
When Clayton eventually testified earlier this month, questions about the 2020 presidential election became a major part of the hearing. Democratic senators pressed him on whether Joe Biden had won the election. Clayton responded that Biden had been certified as the winner and said he did not consider himself an election denier.
His answers did not satisfy Democrats on the committee. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the committee’s Democratic vice chairman, said after the confirmation process that he had concerns about whether Clayton would resist pressure from the White House when necessary.
Republicans continued to back Clayton. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who leads the Intelligence Committee, supported his experience and pointed to the national security work Clayton handled while serving as a federal prosecutor.
Clayton will also inherit an intelligence office that has recently gone through major staffing changes. Pulte announced another round of cuts Tuesday, saying the workforce had dropped by about 30% compared with several weeks earlier. The reductions followed other cuts that began before Pulte took over.
The leadership change also comes while Congress is dealing with the future of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The surveillance authority covers certain communications connected to people outside the United States, and Trump has sought a longer-term renewal.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Clayton’s confirmation could help lawmakers move forward on the issue. The House is away for its August recess, though, so the timing of another congressional vote remains uncertain.
Clayton now takes over an office that coordinates work across the U.S. intelligence system and advises the president on intelligence matters. He enters the position after months of leadership changes, staffing reductions and disagreements in Congress over the direction of the office.Jay Clayton Confirmed to Lead U.S. Intelligence
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