Trump Cancels Senate Hearing for DNI Pick, Alleges Democrats Broke Agreement

Jay Clayton had been set to answer questions from senators.

President Donald Trump in Evian, France, on June 16, 2026. Ludovic Marin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump on June 17 canceled a hearing slated for June 17 for his pick to be the next director of national intelligence (DNI).

Jay Clayton will no longer appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the committee’s chairman, wrote in a post on X that it was “regrettable” that Trump directed Clayton not to appear at the hearing.

“Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly,“ Cotton said. ”While today’s hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to proceeding with his confirmation in the near future.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the committee, said in a statement that the move was part of “an extraordinary display of dysfunction from a president who seems determined to turn America’s national security into a political bargaining chip.”

After DNI Tulsi Gabbard said in May that she was leaving the administration in June to spend time with her husband following his cancer diagnosis, Trump chose Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte as acting DNI, prompting criticism from Democrats over Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience. Trump later nominated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to be the next DNI.

Republicans reached an agreement with Democrats to remove Pulte as acting DNI in return for Democrats approving an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Trump said on June 17.

Republicans moved to quickly hold a confirmation hearing for Clayton, which typically precedes Senate votes on nominees requiring Senate confirmation. However, Democrats “are saying they will vote against FISA,” so they have broken the agreement, Trump said.

The president also tied the developments to the pending Senate approval of James McDonald, who Trump has nominated to be the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York—Clayton is currently serving in that position—as well as the Save America Act, legislation that would require people to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.

“To add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” Trump wrote.

FISA, which enables spy agencies to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant—and has at times let them collect information from Americans communicating with foreigners—lapsed on June 12 after lawmakers failed to extend it.

Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton at Johnson Houses on Dec. 17, 2025. USAO Southern District of New York/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

The House approved the Save America Act, but the Senate, with several Republicans siding with Democrats, blocked the measure.

“Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,” Trump said. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”