Jay Clayton confirmed as Trump’s new director of national intelligence

Published July 28, 2026 7:18pm ET | Updated July 28, 2026 7:31pm ET



The Senate voted to confirm Jay Clayton as President Donald Trump‘s director of national intelligence on Tuesday amid a record-long lapse in government spy powers.

Clayton was confirmed by a party-line vote of 51-47. As DNI, Clayton will oversee the country’s 18 intelligence agencies. The office was formerly headed by Tulsi Gabbard.

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