President Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next permanent director of national intelligence on Thursday. Clayton, a veteran Trump administration official and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was selected to fill the vacancy left by Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned on May 22. Trump announced the nomination on Truth Social, stating that Clayton is highly respected in the legal community and urging the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible. The nomination follows significant political backlash regarding Trump’s earlier decision to name Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence. Lawmakers criticized Pulte for lacking the “extensive national security expertise” required by federal statute for the position. This dispute contributed to the House rejecting a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702 on Thursday. While some Democrats expressed support for Clayton, others, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, stated that the administration must remove Pulte from the role before they will consider extending the surveillance law. Trump confirmed that Pulte will still serve in the acting role until Clayton is confirmed, though the president expressed a desire for Pulte to downsize the office’s staffing during his interim tenure. According to a source familiar with the matter, CIA Director John Ratcliffe recommended Clayton for the permanent position. Clayton’s confirmation process includes an FBI background check and a public hearing, with the Senate Intelligence Committee scheduled to hold a hearing next Wednesday. Clayton’s professional background includes serving as a partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and overseeing high-profile prosecutions, including the indictment of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. While some federal prosecutors expressed skepticism regarding his lack of prior prosecutorial experience, he has received praise from various officials for his management skills and commitment to public service.