Trump delays Clayton’s pick for DNI to try to push Congress on voter ID Bill

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) that he was delaying federal prosecutor Jay Clayton’s nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community in a bid to force Congress to act on a voter ID Bill that currently lacks enough support for passage.

The Republican President said in a social media post just hours before Mr. Clayton’s scheduled confirmation hearing that he will keep Bill Pulte, a top U.S. housing official, as acting Director of National Intelligence. Democratic and Republican lawmakers had opposed Mr. Trump’s selection of Mr. Pulte, citing his lack of known experience in intelligence and his use of his current administration perch to target perceived adversaries of the President — resistance that last week forced Mr. Trump to turn to Mr. Clayton.

The abrupt announcement creates instant uncertainty over the long-term leadership of the 18-agency intelligence community and dashes hopes for a swift renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that expired in Congress last week due to bipartisan anger over Mr. Trump’s pick of Mr. Pulte.

Mr. Clayton had been set to appear on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) for a Senate confirmation hearing that was fast-tracked because of the programme’s lapse. Democrats had said they would not renew the expired surveillance programmes until Mr. Trump withdrew the selection of Mr. Pulte.

In his social media post, Mr. Trump accused Democrats of breaking a deal to renew the program after he nominated Mr. Clayton.

Mr. Trump also added another condition: linking his approval of the surveillance program to the passage of a Bill requiring people to show ID to vote.

The Republican-controlled Congress has not acted on the voting Bill because it does not have enough support in either chamber, particularly from Democrats.