Trump delays Clayton DNI hearing, Pulte set to take over
8 reported
President Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, as his permanent director of national intelligence last week. The Senate was set to move quickly on Clayton’s nomination, but on Wednesday Trump canceled Clayton’s confirmation hearing scheduled for that afternoon. This delay all but ensures Bill Pulte, the current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will take over as acting DNI on Friday. Pulte has no national security experience and will keep his FHFA title while serving as acting DNI, according to Trump. The article reports that Pulte is likely to make deep staffing cuts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and that Trump has indicated Pulte will use his role to investigate “rigged elections.” The article also notes that a major foreign surveillance program, FISA, lapsed last week over bipartisan concern about Pulte, and that Trump’s Clayton nomination was an attempt to smooth its passage through Congress. Trump has now jeopardized the surveillance program by demanding lawmakers package it with a national voter ID bill that the Senate has already rejected.
What’s reported
Trump nominated Jay Clayton, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, as permanent director of national intelligence last week.
On Wednesday, Trump canceled Clayton’s confirmation hearing scheduled for that afternoon.
Bill Pulte, current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is set to take over as acting DNI on Friday.
Pulte has no national security experience and will keep his FHFA title while serving as acting DNI, according to Trump.
The article states Pulte is likely to make deep staffing cuts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Trump has indicated Pulte will use his role to investigate “rigged elections.”
FISA, a major foreign surveillance program, lapsed last week over bipartisan concern about Pulte.
Trump demanded lawmakers package FISA reauthorization with a national voter ID bill that the Senate has already rejected.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Jay Clayton, US attorney for the Southern District of New York
Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and acting DNI nominee
Sources: vox.com
