The dispute leaves Bill Pulte, the former head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence despite criticism of his lack of experience.Show Caption
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump accused Democrats of breaking a deal over his nominees and abruptly pulled his pick to become the country's spy chief, leaving a contentious figure in the slot while the future of a key intelligence law remains in limbo.The dispute focuses on Trump’s successor for Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation in May as director of national intelligence. Trump chose Bill Pulte, who was head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to succeed her temporarily, but Pulte faced bipartisan criticism for his lack of experience in intelligence.Trump then nominated Jay Clayton, who is U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, to succeed Gabbard. Clayton has won bipartisan praise for his experience, and his confirmation hearing was scheduled for June 17 at 2 p.m.Democrat accuses Trump of 'dysfunction' in confusion over spy chiefSen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, initially said the hearing would go on but later said it was “unfortunately postponed.” He called Clayton “a patriot and a highly qualified nominee.”“It’s regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today,” Cotton said on social media.Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said he had "great respect" for Clayton."What we're witnessing is an extraordinary display of dysfunction from a president who seems determined to turn America's national security into a political bargaining chip," Warner said in a statement June 17. "National security cannot be governed by social media post."But Trump complained on social media that the Senate was moving so fast to confirm Clayton that Pulte would be gone before Congress votes to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."It was a rush act by the Democrats," Trump told reporters at the G7 conference in France. "Why are they afraid of this guy?" he added about Pulte. "He's a very capable guy and they're worried about that."Intelligence law lapses during dispute over spy chiefThe statute is important for spying on foreigners, but critics worry that U.S. citizens are swept up in the warrantless surveillance. The law has been credited for stopping numerous terrorist attacks, including on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024.But the House on June 11 blocked the renewal of the law because of concerns about Pulte. The vote was 198-218, with 19 Republicans crossing the aisle to vote against it and seven Democrats voting for it.Secretary of State Marco Rubio was warned in a June 5 letter to get ready for a "potential significant gap in foreign-intelligence collection."Trump complained that Democrats will continue to oppose renewing the intelligence law even if Clayton becomes director of national intelligence. And he worried that Democrats would block Jamie McDonald, the president’s nominee to succeed Clayton as U.S. attorney.Pulte to remain acting head of intelligence 'as long as it takes': TrumpIn response, Trump called a halt to Clayton’s confirmation hearing and left him in place as U.S. attorney until Congress extends the intelligence law. Trump told reporters that Pulte would remain acting director of national intelligence "as long as it takes to get everybody else approved."“Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap,” Trump said on social media June 17. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”Trump made the demand even more contentious by requiring that the legislation include other priorities of his dealing with election law. He wants to require voter identification to cast a ballot, proof of citizenship to register and an end to most mail-in ballots."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 said on social media.
