Walter Joseph "Jay" Clayton was confirmed by the Senate to be Donald Trump’s next director of national intelligence (DNI), ending a stalemate affecting the reauthorization of key spying legislation.
Clayton’s nomination sailed through the chamber on Tuesday after clearing a procedural vote just a day earlier, teeing him up to be sworn in within days. His takeover of the DNI office (ODNI) will herald the ouster of Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick to lead the agency during its transition period and a figure whose selection triggered a Democratic revolt on Capitol Hill. The final vote was 51-47, with zero defections on either side.
