President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is nominating Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as the director of national intelligence (DNI). In a social media post, Trump described Clayton as an “incredible talent” and urged the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible. According to reports, Trump accepted a recommendation for Clayton from CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The nomination follows a period of intense pushback and a legislative standoff regarding the appointment of Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director. Democrats have refused to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expires at midnight Friday, as long as Pulte remains in the role. While Trump stated he intends to keep Pulte in the position “for a little while” to downsize the office, Democrats maintain that Pulte cannot serve in the DNI role due to his lack of national security experience. Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Clayton as a “very qualified professional” and stated the Senate hopes to receive nomination paperwork as soon as Thursday to move quickly. However, the timeline for confirmation remains uncertain, as Clayton must undergo an FBI background check and a public hearing. The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Wednesday, June 17, though some reports suggest it could be delayed until late July. Clayton previously served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 2017 to 2020 and was a partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. While he currently oversees high-profile prosecutions involving terrorism, espionage, and the prosecution of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reports note he has no prior experience in the intelligence world. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the nomination does not change the Democratic position that Pulte must be removed from the role.