Trump Blocks Intelligence Nominee
GOP Senator Bill Cassidy Urges Trump to Confirm Intelligence Chief Nominee, Citing National Security Risks
President Trump threw his own intelligence nomination into chaos on June 17, canceling a Senate confirmation hearing for his DNI pick, Jay Clayton, just hours before it was set to begin. Writing from the G7 summit in France, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would not allow Clayton to appear until the Senate confirmed his SDNY replacement, Jamie McDonald, and passed the SAVE America Act. Now Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is pushing back — publicly urging Trump to "put America first." CBS News and The Washington Post both reported on the widening rift.
The standoff leaves the nation's top intelligence post without a confirmed leader. If no deal is reached, Bill Pulte — a Trump loyalist with no intelligence experience — takes over as acting DNI on June 19. Pulte oversees all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, according to Washington Times.
Trump Cancels His Own Nominee's Hearing at 4 AM
Trump's surprise Truth Social post arrived at 4:00 AM ET on June 17. He wrote: "I don't want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie [McDonald] is in place." He also tied Clayton's hearing to the SAVE America Act — a bill that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton had spent days building support for the hearing. Then Clayton, following Trump's directive, simply did not show up, according to Associated Press.
Cotton called it "regrettable" but went along with the postponement. He said on X that Clayton is "a patriot and a highly qualified nominee." Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the committee's vice chair, was harsher. He said "national security by tweet puts Americans in grave danger," per The Independent.
Cassidy Breaks Ranks as GOP Unity Begins to Crack
Senator Bill Cassidy is one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump openly. He recently lost his Louisiana primary to a Trump-backed challenger. Despite that political cost, he went public on June 18, urging Trump to stop blocking Clayton and "put America first." The Washington Post reported his criticism as part of a broader pattern of GOP frustration with the White House's handling of the DNI vacancy.
Analysts at Newsweek say pro-Trump unity in the Senate is "beginning to splinter." By canceling the hearing, Trump embarrassed GOP leaders who had worked to build bipartisan support for Clayton as a credible, non-controversial pick to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned on May 15 citing her husband's cancer diagnosis.
Two Fights Tangled Together: FISA and the Blue Slip
The DNI standoff is tied to two separate battles. First, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the law that lets the U.S. collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant — expired on June 12. The House voted 198-218 to block an extension, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats, according to Axios. Trump blames Republicans for falling into a "trap" by fast-tracking Clayton without first locking in the SAVE America Act.
Second, Trump is fighting the Senate "blue slip" tradition. That rule lets home-state senators block U.S. attorney nominees. New York Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have used it to block Jamie McDonald — the Sullivan & Cromwell partner Trump nominated to run the SDNY. McDonald also happens to be part of Trump's personal legal team on his New York hush-money appeal, per Courthouse News.
What Happens If Pulte Takes Over on June 19
If the standoff holds through Friday, Bill Pulte steps in as acting DNI. Pulte currently runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He has already said he plans to launch investigations into Trump's perceived political enemies, including the Federal Reserve and specific Democratic senators, according to CBS News. Critics call his appointment a threat — a way to pressure the Senate into confirming McDonald quickly.
The FISA lapse adds another layer of risk. A court order allows current intelligence collection to continue for up to one year. But FOX 26 Houston reported that the legal uncertainty could force tech companies to stop sharing data with the government. The SAVE America Act, meanwhile, lacks the 60 Senate votes needed to pass, making a quick resolution unlikely, per The 19th News.
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