{"id":6291,"date":"2026-08-04T21:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T21:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6291"},"modified":"2026-08-04T21:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T21:00:07","slug":"jay-clayton-sworn-in-as-us-director-of-national-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6291","title":{"rendered":"Jay Clayton sworn in as US director of national intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"70d63668-e4a4-428c-800e-1ea9d813b4a7\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A middle-aged man in a blue suit speaks into a microphone.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/67a8845c5db7afda38c645db93f9998ddcb47fc1\/0_0_8192_5464\/master\/8192.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.1513671875\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Jay Clayton testifies during his confirmation hearing in Washington DC on 15 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Nathan Posner\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"70d63668-e4a4-428c-800e-1ea9d813b4a7\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Jay Clayton testifies during his confirmation hearing in Washington DC on 15 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Nathan Posner\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Jay Clayton sworn in as US director of national intelligence<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>After a bumpy confirmation hearing, Clayton replaces acting director Bill Pulte to head US intelligence agencies<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/aug\/04\/donald-trump-todd-blanche-republicans-vote-michigan-midterm-primary-democrats-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">US politics live \u2013 latest updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Jay Clayton has been sworn in as the US\u2019s top spy after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/28\/senate-confirms-jay-clayton-national-intelligence-director\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">contentious Senate confirmation hearing<\/a> during which \u2060he refused to directly \u2060acknowledge \u200bthat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> lost the 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The oath of office was administered to Clayton on Tuesday by the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, in the Oval Office as the president looked on and applauded. He becomes the ninth director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/22\/tulsi-gabbard-resignation-intelligence-director\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">who stepped down in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Clayton, a former US attorney for the southern district of New York and chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will oversee 18 US intelligence agencies. His appointment follows a turbulent two months in which the intelligence apparatus was temporarily led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/19\/bill-pulte-acting-director-national-intelligence\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Bill Pulte<\/a>, the housing regulator whom Trump installed as acting director after Gabbard\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"a2dd62b9-563c-4065-ae47-15cc976b0fed\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-uyoh2p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/15\/jay-clayton-senate-intelligence-committee-hearing\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">Trump intelligence pick Jay Clayton refuses to say Biden won 2020 election<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Pulte\u2019s appointment had unsettled some Republicans because of his lack of national security experience. During his brief tenure, however, he became involved in the administration\u2019s increasingly prominent campaign to raise concerns about the integrity of US elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Shortly before Clayton\u2019s confirmation, Pulte released intelligence community documents from 2020 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/16\/trump-tv-address-thursday\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">describing China\u2019s capacity to interfere<\/a> in US politics and vulnerabilities in the election system. The material was largely previously known but its release came as Trump has made \u201celection security\u201d a central political issue ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump has continued to promote false claims that the 2020 election, which he lost to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/joebiden\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Joe Biden<\/a>, was stolen. During Pulte\u2019s tenure, he also released classified material that he said supported his arguments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Clayton\u2019s own confirmation was overshadowed by the same issue. Democrats condemned his refusal to state that Biden had won the election, while Republicans ultimately confirmed him along party lines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The controversy has raised questions about how the intelligence community will operate under a president who has repeatedly accused federal agencies of being \u201cweaponised\u201d against him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In his first statement as director, Clayton sought to address those concerns, promising to protect the intelligence community from political interference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThe safety \u200band security of the \u200cAmerican people will be \u200cour North Star, and we will work to make sure the \u200cAmerican people have complete confidence in the [intelligence community] through proper oversight, transparency and accountability,\u201d Clayton <a href=\"https:\/\/www.odni.gov\/14064\/pr-12-26\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said in a press release<\/a> from the office of the director of national intelligence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThis includes ensuring the vital work of our [intelligence community] is never weaponized for political motives,\u201d he added, echoing language frequently used by Trump and his allies to describe their claims that previous administrations abused federal power to target the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Clayton brings substantial experience in law enforcement and government to the job. As US attorney in Manhattan, he oversaw prosecutions involving terrorism, international drug trafficking and organised crime. Before that, he chaired the SEC from 2017 to 2020, where the administration says he oversaw more than 2,300 enforcement actions resulting in more than $10bn in penalties and disgorgement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He has also held senior positions in business and law, including at Apollo Global Management and Sullivan &amp; Cromwell, and has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"#EmailSignup-skip-link-14\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1tr4stg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-12qa5gp\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1cjdlyj\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"EmailSignup-skip-link-14\" aria-label=\"after newsletter promotion\" role=\"note\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Republican senators have pointed to that record as evidence that Clayton is qualified to lead the intelligence community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">John Thune, the Senate majority leader, has called him a \u201cproven leader\u201d whose record inspired confidence. Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate intelligence committee, said Clayton had deep experience in national security threats. Other Republican supporters highlighted his previous bipartisan confirmation as SEC chair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Senator Katie Britt of Alabama <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenKatieBritt\/status\/2084712973784715466?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">added via X on Tuesday<\/a>: \u201cCongratulations to our Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton! I look forward to seeing him lead our intelligence community and keep our nation safe from threats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Clayton now inherits an intelligence community that has already endured a succession of upheavals under Trump. Gabbard\u2019s tenure was marked by clashes with congressional Democrats, who accused her of advancing the president\u2019s political agenda and promoting debunked election claims. Pulte\u2019s temporary appointment then raised fresh concerns about the politicisation of the intelligence agencies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Clayton said his aim was to create an intelligence organisation that was \u201cstreamlined, agile, team-oriented and mission-focused\u201d. He added: \u201cI look forward to making sure the men and women of the [intelligence community] have the resources they need to carry out our critical mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">With \u200bjust more than \u200bthree months left before \u200bmidterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress, \u200bTrump has escalated efforts \u200cto make \u201celection \u200bsecurity\u201d a \u200bcentral issue, despite established findings that voter fraud is rare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/espionage\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Espionage<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Jay%20Clayton%20sworn%20in%20as%20US%20director%20of%20national%20intelligence&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/04\/jay-clayton-sworn-in-director-of-national-intelligence?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F04%2Fjay-clayton-sworn-in-director-of-national-intelligence&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/04\/jay-clayton-sworn-in-director-of-national-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jay Clayton testifies during his confirmation hearing in Washington DC on 15 July 2026. Photograph: Nathan Posner\/Shutterstock View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6291"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6294,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6291\/revisions\/6294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}