WASHINGTON D.C. — President Donald Trump demanded the Senate Intelligence Committee delay Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence unless James McDonald is first confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The committee had scheduled Clayton's hearing for July 15.

Trump ordered the cancellation of a previous confirmation hearing for Clayton on June 17, hours before it was set to occur. He nominated Clayton last month to be director of national intelligence. Trump stated that Clayton's nomination should not move forward until McDonald is confirmed to replace Clayton as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Trump accused Republicans of moving "so fast with the hearings of the Great Jay Clayton." He also cited legislative concerns for the delay, specifically the expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the lack of sufficient votes for the SAVE America Act. While the president has indicated his preference for McDonald to replace Clayton, the White House has not yet sent McDonald's nomination to the Senate. McDonald is a partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and a former federal prosecutor.

Clayton currently serves as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, a position to which a federal judge appointed him last year. He also served as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term, a role for which the Senate confirmed him in a 61-37 vote. Clayton was previously a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell.

In early June, Trump named Bill Pulte to be acting national intelligence director, succeeding Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down due to her husband's cancer diagnosis. Pulte took over on June 19 and also serves as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Democrats and some Republicans expressed concerns about Pulte's lack of a national security background. Democrats and some Republicans also expressed concerns that Pulte helped the administration compile information to launch investigations into Trump's perceived political enemies.

Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has spoken positively about Clayton. Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, posted on X, "His intelligence, temperament and deep commitment to public service will make him a terrific DNI." Democrats have stated that their support for reauthorizing the expired FISA provision depends in part on Clayton taking over as national intelligence director.