New Delhi: The US Senate Tuesday confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), placing a corporate lawyer and financial regulator with limited conventional intelligence experience at the helm of America’s sprawling network of spy agencies.
Clayton was confirmed in a largely party-line vote of 51-47, with Republicans backing US President Donald Trump’s nominee and Democrats voting against him. His appointment ends the brief and turbulent tenure of acting intelligence director Bill Pulte, who oversaw sweeping dismissals at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).Clayton’s ascent is unusual. Unlike several previous intelligence directors, he has not served in the military, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), or on congressional intelligence committees. Instead, his career has spanned an elite Wall Street law firm, the country’s principal securities regulator and one of America’s most powerful federal prosecutors’ offices.
While Republicans have highlighted his record of managing major institutions and handling financial and national security cases, Democrats have pointed to lack of conventional intelligence experience and asked whether he can deliver assessments that challenge the White House, if necessary.
