Trump delaying Clayton nomination in voting bill push

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President Trump announced on Wednesday morning that he is pausing the confirmation process for federal prosecutor Jay Clayton’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) until Congress approves the nation’s warrantless spy powers and a voter ID bill.

The move comes as Senate GOP leaders have said they wished to speed Clayton’s confirmation in an effort to confirm him before Bill Pulte, Trump’s controversial pick to serve as acting DNI, is slated to start Friday.

The president nominated Clayton to appease concerns from lawmakers that acting DNI Bill Pulte did not have the qualifications to hold this temporary role and that he had used his position as a top U.S. housing official to target Trump’s perceived political enemies. Democrats said they would not reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key spy authority that expired on Friday, with Pulte in this role.

Clayton was scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday afternoon for further consideration of his nomination.

Trump said in an early morning Truth Social post, however, that this hearing has been canceled.

Clayton’s hearing has not yet been removed from Senate websites. The Hill has reached out to Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton’s office.

“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,” the president wrote. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”

Trump claimed that Republican lawmakers “fell into a trap” set by Democrats, who “broke the Deal” to remove Pulte by not approving this crucial surveillance authority. In fact, numerous Republicans are also opposed to renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) without reforms.

“Therefore, 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, referring to voter ID legislation he once called his top legislative priority.

The president nominated Clayton to appease concerns over Pulte, who has no intelligence background and has used his position as a top U.S. housing official to refer Trump’s perceived political enemies for criminal prosecution for mortgage fraud. Democrats said they would not reauthorize Section 702 with Pulte in this role, and the powers lapsed Friday.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act has stalled in the Senate after the House passed the legislation in February. It would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote and a valid ID to cast a ballot.

Republicans have pushed for the SAVE America Act, saying it bolsters election security and addresses the president’s claims of widespread voter fraud. Democrats allege that the act infringes on voting rights, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) calling it “Jim Crow 2.0.”

Additionally, Trump criticized the Senate’s delay in approving McDonald’s nomination to replace Clayton as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The president has been a vocal proponent for removing the blue slip policy — a procedure used by the Senate Judiciary Committee to vet judicial candidates.

“Because of the ridiculous views of Republicans on blue slipping (Dumocrats are often willing to nix it), I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place,” the president wrote.

Updated at 8:55 a.m. EDT

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Bill Pulte

Chuck Schumer

Jay Clayton

Tom Cotton

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