{"id":2613595,"date":"2026-06-12T13:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-jay-clayton-trumps-new-pick-for-intelligence-chief\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T13:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:39:01","slug":"what-to-know-about-jay-clayton-trumps-new-pick-for-intelligence-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-jay-clayton-trumps-new-pick-for-intelligence-chief\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about Jay Clayton, Trump&#8217;s new pick for intelligence chief"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-to-know-about-jay-clayton-trumps-new-pick-for-intelligence-chief%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613595&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> tapped <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4605230\/trump-names-jay-clayton-intelligence-chief-fisa\/\">Jay Clayton<\/a> as his pick to be the next <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/odni\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2952\">director of national intelligence<\/a> on Thursday after facing pushback over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4590852\/what-to-know-bill-pulte-trump-pick-odni-chief\/\">his recent choice<\/a> to fill the acting role, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-pulte\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22738\">Bill Pulte<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If confirmed by the Senate, Clayton would take over the office of the permanent director from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tulsi-gabbard\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1024\">Tulsi Gabbard<\/a>, who resigned in late May, after Pulte completes his time as acting director. Pulte will fill in as acting director when Gabbard\u2019s resignation, which was initially set for June 30, becomes effective on June 19, serving until the Senate decides on Clayton. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4606329\/jd-vance-the-view-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Vance will look \u2018far more adult\u2019 than The View\u2019s hosts: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4606299\/trump-fumes-over-fake-peace-deal-terms-leaked-iran\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump fumes over \u2018fake\u2019 peace deal terms leaked by Iran<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4605869\/appeals-court-trump-global-tariffs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Appeals court allows Trump to collect 10% global tariffs for now<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4605230\/trump-names-jay-clayton-intelligence-chief-fisa\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4605230\"><strong>TRUMP NOMINATES JAY CLAYTON AS NEXT INTELLIGENCE CHIEF AMID FISA GRIDLOCK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate Intelligence Committee already scheduled Clayton\u2019s<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4605862\/republicans-race-confirm-trump-dni-pick\/\"> confirmation hearing for June 17<\/a>, meaning he could possibly take over leading the national <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/intelligence-community\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1023\">intelligence community<\/a> this month before Pulte has the chance to take the acting role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ahead of his impending June 17 confirmation hearing, here\u2019s what to know about Clayton, who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and previously chaired the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/securities-and-exchange-commission\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17687\">Securities and Exchange Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-corporate-law-career\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corporate law career<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said in his Truth Social <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116732777898985789\">announcement<\/a> naming Clayton as his ODNI chief that \u201cfew people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clayton, an alumnus of the University of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"629\">Pennsylvania\u2019s <\/a>undergraduate program and Carey Law School, worked at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"286\">New York City<\/a>-based Sullivan &#038; Cromwell law firm for much of his professional career before Trump nominated him to serve as the chairman of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/securities-and-exchange-commission\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17687\">SEC<\/a> during the first <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>. He also holds a master\u2019s degree in economics from the University of Cambridge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clayton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sullcrom.com\/Lawyers\/Jay-Clayton\">served<\/a> as co-managing partner of Sullivan &#038; Cromwell\u2019s general practice group and also led the firm\u2019s cybersecurity group. During his nearly two decades at the firm, Clayton led major merger and acquisition cases and corporate regulatory investigation cases. He used his legal expertise to assist during major global financial and corporate milestones, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sullcrom.com\/SullivanCromwell\/_Assets\/PDFs\/General\/Clayton_Selected_Sullivan_Cromwell_Engagements.pdf\">such as<\/a> the JPMorgan Chase acquisition of Bear Stearns, Berkshire Hathaway\u2019s $5 billion investment into Goldman Sachs, and British Airways\u2019s merger with Iberia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clayton is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.upenn.edu\/faculty\/jwclayto\">Law School<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-sec-chairman-in-trump-s-first-term\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">SEC chairman in Trump\u2019s first term<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Wall Street lawyer transitioned from the big law world, where he helped financial institutions with regulatory investigations, to the government side of the coin in 2017, when Trump tapped him to serve as the SEC head.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJay Clayton is a highly talented expert on many aspects of financial and regulatory law, and he will ensure our financial institutions can thrive and create jobs while playing by the rules at the same time,\u201d Trump said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.presidency.ucsb.edu\/documents\/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-nominates-jay-clayton-chairman-the-sec\">statement<\/a> at the time. \u201cWe need to undo many regulations which have stifled investment in American businesses, and restore oversight of the financial industry in a way that does not harm American workers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clayton took the role with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.presidency.ucsb.edu\/documents\/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-nominates-jay-clayton-chairman-the-sec\">commitment<\/a> to \u201cset policy that encourages American companies to do what they do best: create jobs.\u201d He was known for his pro-business and pro-investor policies in the role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He particularly cracked down on bad actors in the financial industry and regulated <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cryptocurrency\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1699\">cryptocurrency<\/a> in the early days of the industry. His agency established an office to punish cyber-misconduct in the financial sector, taking a strong stance aiming to bring the crypto-industry in line. Though his crypto policies earned him some pushback, the former chairman skated through his tenure without much criticism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clayton stepped down from his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/about\/sec-commissioners\/sec-historical-summary-chairmen-commissioners\/jay-clayton\/selected-sec-accomplishments-may-2017-december-2020\">role at the SEC<\/a> at the end of Trump\u2019s first term in December 2020, subsequently returning to Sullivan &#038; Cromwell as policy advisor and stepping into the chairman role at financial giant Apollo Global Management. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur public and private markets have grown considerably \u2013 today, the S&#038;P 500 index is approximately 65 percent above its level on December 30, 2016. At the SEC, we focused on modernizing our regulatory framework, adopting over 90 rules, many in areas that had not been substantively addressed in decades,\u201d Clayton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/newsroom\/speeches-statements\/clayton-2020-12-23\">said<\/a> in his resignation letter.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-southern-district-of-new-york\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Southern District of New York<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Trump began his second term, Clayton stepped back into the administration\u2019s spotlight, as the president tapped him to lead one of the most consequential judicial districts in the country: the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Clayton has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-sdny\/meet-us-attorney\">led the office<\/a> as it has prosecuted former Venezuelan dictator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2252\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a>, indicted the soldier who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-sdny\/pr\/us-soldier-charged-using-classified-information-profit-prediction-market-bets\">allegedly<\/a> placed a Polymarket bet on Maduro\u2019s capture, and brought indictments against illicit drug distributors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4605862\/republicans-race-confirm-trump-dni-pick\/\"><strong>REPUBLICANS RACE TO CONFIRM TRUMP DNI PICK JAY CLAYTON TO BREAK SPY PROGRAM GRIDLOCK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump urged the Senate \u201cto confirm Jay as soon as possible\u201d for the national intelligence job, as Republicans on the Hill have raced to do just that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewDesiderio\/status\/2065136487935709431?s=20\">called<\/a> Clayton \u201ca very qualified professional with a great skill set\u201d on Thursday, saying Trump\u2019s pick \u201chas a great reputation as being an incredibly competent manager.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump tapped Jay Clayton as his pick to be the next director of national intelligence on Thursday after facing pushback over his recent choice to fill the acting role, Bill Pulte. If confirmed by the Senate, Clayton would take over the office of the permanent director from Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in late<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2613596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/4f16597ddbb9ac3ab7319dd741510e05.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2613595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/4f16597ddbb9ac3ab7319dd741510e05.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}