BREAKING: Trump Announces New Nominee to Replace Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

President Trump on Thursday announced his nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence.

Clayton, the former SEC Chairman and current US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) will replace Tulsi Gabbard.

Federal housing regulator Bill Pulte is currently working with Tulsi Gabbard as he transitions to Acting DNI on June 19.

Trump’s full statement:

I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the former Head of Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the most prominent and successful Law Firms anywhere in the World, and the current United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next Director of National Intelligence and, importantly, to serve in my Cabinet.

Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Last month, Tulsi Gabbard resigned as the Director of National Intelligence.

Tulsi stepped down to be with her husband as he battles an extremely rare form of bone cancer.

“Today, with great humility and sincere appreciation, I shared the below letter with President Trump. It has been a profound honor to serve the American people as DNI,” Tulsi said last month.

Today, with great humility and sincere appreciation, I shared the below letter with President Trump. It has been a profound honor to serve the American people as DNI. pic.twitter.com/p7AZ4wa9Yi

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) May 22, 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Clayton and said he will try to get him confirmed as quickly as possible.

Thune cautioned that Clayton probably won’t get confirmed before June 19.

News: Thune says Jay Clayton “has a great reputation as being an incredibly competent manager.” Called Clayton “a very qualified professional with a great skill set.”

Says he’ll try to get him confirmed “as quickly as possible” but acknowledged that probably can’t happen before…

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 11, 2026