Trump's new spy chief confirmed by US Senate

Trump's new spy chief confirmed by US SenateImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jay Clayton testifying before the Senate Committee on Intelligence in Washington DCByOlivia IrelandPublished22 minutes agoJay Clayton has been confirmed as the next US director of national intelligence (DNI), after President Donald Trump's original choice was rejected by lawmakers.On Tuesday, the US Senate voted 51 to 47 to install Clayton, replacing the acting DNI Bill Pulte. Pulte was Trump's original pick but faced backlash for being a housing official with no national intelligence experience.Clayton had been serving as US attorney for the Southern District of New York, overseeing several prominent cases including the drug trafficking case against former Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro."Jay is outstanding in every way, and will do a spectacular job as Director!" Trump posted afterwards on Truth Social.Clayton, who is also a former securities regulator and federal prosecutor, succeeds Tulsi Gabbard, who left her job last month and was replaced temporarily by Pulte.Pulte's initial appointment in early June raised alarm for both parties, as the Trump loyalist used his other role as federal housing regulator to refer several of the president's political opponents for possible prosecution and oversaw staffing cuts.Shortly before the vote for Clayton's appointment passed, Pulte posted about the cuts on X, writing that "we are, this morning, executing a 5th and near final round of terminations, an approximately 30% staff reduction from weeks ago". Shortly after the alarm in June over Pulte, Trump announced Clayton as his replacement nominee. Senators sought to move quickly with his confirmation. However Clayton's first scheduled appearance before the Senate intelligence committee on 17 June was called off by Trump, who blamed lawmakers for allowing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa) to lapse.Initially, Democrats w...