Senate Confirms Jay Clayton as DNI in 51-47 Vote as ODNI Shrinks by About 30%
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 27
Senate Confirms Jay Clayton as DNI in 51-47 Vote as ODNI Shrinks by About 30%
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 27
Summary
Jay Clayton won Senate confirmation 51-47 on Tuesday night, taking over as director of national intelligence after Bill Pulte’s 40-day acting tenure.
About 30% of ODNI staff have been cut across five rounds of firings under Pulte, according to his public claim, leaving key offices such as the National Intelligence Council severely understaffed.
John Ratcliffe still appears to be the administration’s dominant intelligence voice, with sources saying Pulte deferred to the CIA director after a clash over redactions in 2020-election documents.
Clayton enters with limited intelligence experience and little stated vision for the office, while Republicans push for deeper cuts and some officials warn ODNI could face obsolescence or elimination in its current form.