President Donald Trump canceled Jay Clayton’s Senate hearing for director of national intelligence after accusing Democrats of backing away from an agreement tied to FISA, acting DNI William Pulte and other nominations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump canceled a Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, his nominee to serve as director of national intelligence, after accusing Democrats of breaking an agreement involving surveillance authorities and the administration’s acting intelligence chief.
Clayton had been scheduled to appear June 17 before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump announced on Truth Social that the hearing would not proceed.
Neither Senate Republicans nor Democrats had immediately responded to Trump’s announcement.
The dispute follows a series of personnel changes at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. DNI Tulsi Gabbard said in May that she would leave the administration in June to spend time with her husband after his cancer diagnosis. Trump then selected Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte to serve as acting DNI, a move that drew criticism from Democrats who questioned Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience.
Trump later nominated Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as DNI.
According to Trump, Republicans had reached an agreement with Democrats to remove Pulte as acting DNI in exchange for Democratic support for an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. Trump said Democrats have since indicated they will vote against FISA, which he described as a breach of the agreement.
Republicans had moved to quickly schedule Clayton’s confirmation hearing, a step that normally precedes Senate votes on nominees requiring confirmation. Trump said the hearing is now canceled.
The president also linked Clayton’s nomination to the pending approval of James McDonald, his nominee to replace Clayton as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,” Trump wrote. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
Trump also tied the fight to the Save America Act, legislation that would require people to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.
“To add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” Trump wrote.
FISA, which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant, expired June 12 after lawmakers failed to approve an extension. The authority has also drawn scrutiny because it can capture information involving Americans who communicate with foreign targets.
The House approved the Save America Act, but the measure was blocked in the Senate after several Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.
Trump’s decision leaves Pulte in place as acting director of national intelligence while Clayton’s nomination is paused. It also deepens the standoff over FISA, voter registration legislation and the administration’s nominees for two major federal positions.
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