President Trump announced Wednesday that he is canceling Jay Clayton’s Senate confirmation hearing to become director of national intelligence, a move that further complicates efforts to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lapsed last week, and leaves Bill Pulte on track to assume the role of acting DNI on Friday.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Republicans had agreed to remove Bill Pulte as acting DNI in exchange for Democratic support on FISA reauthorization, but claimed Democrats later indicated they would oppose the measure. “The Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal,” Trump wrote.
Trump also said he does not want to remove Clayton from his current role as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York until his preferred replacement, Jamie McDonald, is confirmed. As a result, Trump said the administration is canceling Clayton’s DNI hearing and “will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney.”
Trump added that he would not approve FISA reauthorization without the SAVE AMERICA Act attached, arguing that Republicans had “fallen into a trap.” The decision ensures that Bill Pulte will assume the role of acting director of national intelligence on Friday, following Tulsi Gabbard’s departure.
