President Donald Trump announced early Wednesday that he is pulling the plug on a scheduled Senate confirmation hearing for his Director of National Intelligence nominee, Jay Clayton, escalating an already bitter standoff over surveillance powers, election integrity legislation, and control of the nation’s intelligence apparatus.
In a lengthy Truth Social post published shortly before 4 a.m. ET, Trump blasted Democrats for backing away from what he described as a bipartisan agreement surrounding the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a key national security authority that officially expired on June 12.
“Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA,” Trump wrote. “So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.”
The president then announced that Clayton’s confirmation hearing would be halted until the Senate confirms Jamie McDonald, Trump’s 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.
Until then, Trump said Bill Pulte will remain Acting Director of National Intelligence.
The move immediately injected fresh uncertainty into an intelligence leadership battle that has already derailed congressional efforts to renew FISA authorities.
FISA Fight Reaches Boiling Point
At the center of the dispute is Section 702 of FISA, which allows intelligence agencies to collect communications involving foreign targets located outside the United States without obtaining individual warrants.
The authority expired last week after House lawmakers failed to pass a temporary extension. Democrats and several Republicans had objected to Trump’s decision to install Pulte—currently head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency—as acting DNI, arguing he lacks intelligence experience and could politicize the position.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, previously said lawmakers would move quickly on Clayton’s nomination and then work to restore FISA authorities. Warner and other Democrats have repeatedly argued that Pulte’s presence is a major obstacle to any surveillance renewal effort.
Trump, however, has refused to separate the issues.
In Wednesday’s post, he declared that he would not support any FISA extension unless Congress also passes his SAVE America Act, an election-integrity proposal that would require voter identification and place new restrictions on mail-in voting.
“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.
The White House views the measure as a critical safeguard against election fraud, while Democrats have characterized it as a federal voter restriction bill.
Senate Republicans Caught Off Guard
Trump’s announcement created immediate confusion on Capitol Hill because presidents do not directly control Senate hearing schedules.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) indicated the hearing would still proceed unless Trump formally withdraws Clayton’s nomination or instructs the nominee not to appear.
That response highlighted growing tension between Trump’s political strategy and Senate Republicans’ desire to quickly confirm Clayton and resolve the FISA impasse.
Just days ago, Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged to move Clayton’s nomination “as quickly as possible,” while both Republicans and Democrats viewed the former SEC chairman and current Manhattan U.S. attorney as a far less controversial choice than Pulte.
Who Is Jay Clayton?
Clayton currently serves as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term.
Although he lacks a traditional intelligence background, Clayton has received bipartisan praise for his management style and legal experience. His nomination was widely viewed as an effort by the White House to calm bipartisan concerns over Pulte’s appointment.
Clayton has overseen several high-profile prosecutions during his tenure in Manhattan, including cases involving international narcotics trafficking, financial crimes, and national security matters.
National Security Questions Remain
The cancellation comes as intelligence officials continue warning about the lapse of Section 702 authorities.
Congressional leaders in both parties have described the expiration as a national security risk, though sharp disagreements remain over surveillance safeguards and Trump’s intelligence leadership choices.
For now, the future of both FISA reauthorization and Clayton’s nomination remains uncertain.
