President Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and current US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence. The nomination, announced on June 11, 2026, fills the vacancy created by Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation last month.
Clayton served as SEC Chairman from May 4, 2017, to December 23, 2020. After leaving the SEC, Clayton returned to private practice before being tapped to serve as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, a role he was officially confirmed into in August 2025.
Why Gabbard left
The nomination follows Tulsi Gabbard’s announcement on May 22, 2026, that she would resign from the DNI position effective June 30, 2026. Gabbard cited her husband’s serious health issues as the reason for stepping down.
Gabbard was Trump’s original DNI pick, announced in late 2024. No details about the Senate confirmation timeline have been made public.
