Oppose Jay Clayton for Director of National Intelligence

Trump has nominated U.S. Attorney and former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Jay Clayton to serve as permanent Director of National Intelligence (DNI) after Acting DNI Bill Pulte faced intense bipartisan criticism over his lack of qualifications.

Clayton, like Pulte, has no professional background in intelligence or national security. Instead, he has spent most of his career representing major investment banks in international deals, raising concerns about potential conflicts between corporate financial interests and national security priorities.

Further, Clayton has publicly supported some of the Trump administration’s most blatant grifts and lies, from defending Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization” slush fund to appearing on television to promote conspiracy theories about California’s primary election results.

Clayton’s nomination comes as Congress decides whether to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows government authorities to conduct warrantless surveillance of communications. The controversial law is set to expire soon, and several lawmakers have rejected an extension, citing concerns about Acting Director Pulte’s qualifications and a need for stronger privacy safeguards.

The Director of National Intelligence oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies and plays a critical role in protecting national security. Congress should reject Clayton’s nomination and demand a qualified nominee with significant intelligence and national security experience.