Trump Nominates New Director of National Intelligence

US President Donald Trump announced the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence, urging the Senate to confirm him as quickly as possible.

Clayton currently serves as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He previously headed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Trump also announced that Bill Pulte, considered a close ally of the president and currently head of the Federal Housing Agency, will temporarily lead the intelligence community from 19 June. He will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her departure on 30 June.

Pulte's appointment has sparked a political row in Washington, with tensions spilling over into the debate over the renewal of the law governing foreign surveillance powers. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives rejected a short-term extension of those powers on Thursday, a move Trump had also supported.

(reuters, bak)