WASHINGTON, D.C. — A surprise move from President Donald Trump last week is having major ripple effects and is raising new questions about the future of U.S. intelligence leadership.
The president has essentially paused consideration of his new nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) while linking a key national security bill to a separate election measure.
Democrats said they would not support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless Trump withdrew Bill Pulte’s appointment as Acting DNI and nominated a less controversial, permanent replacement.
Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies drew heavy criticism over Pulte’s lack of experience for the role.
On June 11, the president announced a new pick for the job: Jay Clayton, the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Republicans thought they had a path forward to clear up Pulte’s controversial appointment. Clayton’s Senate confirmation hearing was scheduled for last Wednesday.
Then, in an early morning Truth Social post just hours before the hearing, Trump said he would not support renewing FISA — the key national security tool — unless Congress also passes the Save America Act, a voter ID proposal.
“I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it. Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap. Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney. In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence,” said Trump in the Truth Social post last week.
The move blindsided Senate Republicans. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-AR., said it was “regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear.”
“I think he’s an incompetent sycophant and not the right person to lead DNI,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said of Pulte. “And you’re undermining, ultimately, what the confirmed administrator should be doing. He [Clayton] is going to inherit what I believe is going to be a mess left behind by Pulte and the distrust for this guy.”
For now, the president says Pulte will remain in the job. He’s already making big changes, with reported mass cuts and firings this week.
“Well, they know the answer. I mean, Pulte is totally incompetent. He is the reason why FISA is not even being considered,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said when asked what his message is to Senate Republicans. “His agenda is to please President Trump and apparently slash the agency.”
“Pulte doesn’t have an ounce of national security experience or an ounce of integrity,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday. “He’s already started to purge the intelligence experts who have that integrity.”
The dispute is stretching beyond Pulte’s appointment itself. FISA is considered must-pass legislation by many national security officials, and it is already overdue. FISA lapsed earlier this month, and there’s no word when an extension could be considered.
“When it comes to protecting Americans and national security, we need an adult in the room, and Pulte’s removing them left and right,” Schumer said.
There is no word yet on when, or if, Clayton’s confirmation hearing will be rescheduled. In the meantime, Senate GOP leaders are scrambling to determine a path forward on both the nomination and FISA.