U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, who Trump just tapped to lead the country’s national intelligence operations.
Reuters
President Donald Trump tapped current Manhattan U.S. District Attorney Jay Clayton on Thursday to head the country’s national intelligence operations.
Clayton just began his tenure leading the Southern District of New York after Trump appointed him last spring to lead what’s considered one of the country’s premier legal institutions, handling some of the Justice Department’s most complex, high-profile cases.
A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York did not respond to a request for comment. Under Clayton’s brief leadership, the office has landed a high-profile conviction of Manhattan real estate brokers and brothers Alon, Oren and Tal Alexander on a sprawling sex trafficking indictment and handled the prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
Clayton previously headed the federal Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term. In his position heading up the Southern District of New York, he said he would be looking to crack down on street crime, like gun and fentanyl offenses, an unusual aim for the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office that’s historically been focused on high-level prosecution.
Jay Clayton, left, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York at the New York City Bar Association in December, 2025, being interviewed by James M. McDonald, a Sullivan and Cromwell attorney.Rick Kopstein
Clayton’s nomination to lead the office, which includes the Central Intelligence and National Intelligence Agencies, will be subject to confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
It comes as Trump’s interim pick to head the country’s national intelligence operations while he searches for its permanent leader after Tulsi Gabbard’s May resignation – federal housing official Bill Pulte – has stirred controversy.
Pulte is currently the director of federal housing and is considered a controversial Trump ally, with Senators saying he doesn’t have relevant national security experience to lead the office.
The federal housing official is still set to take the Director of National Intelligence reins next week, on June 19, something senators have voiced concern over – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told CNBC Pulte was a “national security risk,” and the Senate would explore confirming Clayton before Pulte can enter the seat.
In his Truth Social post announcing Clayton’s nomination, Trump called him “very highly respected,” citing his prior role as a partner at prominent New York law firm Sullivan and Cromwell.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump wrote. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”