Jay Clayton, lawyer, former financial regulator and current federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will become the new Director of National Intelligence of the United States (DNI), after the Senate approved his nomination promoted by President Donald Trump.

After a hearing, Clayton was confirmed with a vote of 51 votes in favor and 47 against, a result that reflected the Republican majority in the Upper House and the reservations expressed by the Democratic caucus.

The new intelligence chief will take command of an office that coordinates the work of US spy agencies and that recently underwent a staff reduction following a series of layoffs promoted by the Trump administration.

From Wall Street to intelligence

Before coming to office, Clayton served as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, one of the largest offices in the country. He also headed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during Donald Trump's first term, where he gained notoriety for his work on financial fraud cases and market oversight.

His allies highlight that this experience allowed him to work closely with national security organizations and authorities in charge of combating terrorism and organized crime.

The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican Tom Cotton, defended his appointment.

“Jay Clayton is a highly qualified candidate with extensive experience combating national security threats,” Cotton said after the vote.

A confirmation with criticism

Although supported by Republicans, the nomination raised doubts among Democrats.

AP revealed that Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, explained that he voted against because he believes that Clayton could face difficulties in maintaining the independence of the position from the White House.

“His confirmation process left me with serious reservations about whether he would be willing to resist political pressure at the most important moments,” Warner said.

During his confirmation hearing, Clayton avoided answering who won the 2020 presidential election, a stance that was questioned by Democratic lawmakers, who expressed concern about the future director's impartiality.

With his arrival, Jay Clayton will replace Bill Pulte, who held the position on an interim basis after the departure of Tulsi Gabbard. His main challenge will be to lead an office that has significantly reduced its staff and regain the trust of a sector of Congress that demands to maintain the independence of the intelligence community.

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