President Donald Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, the former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the country’s leading intelligence official, Trump announced Thursday.
The nomination followed widespread criticism of Trump’s decision to install a controversial ally, Bill Pulte, as acting director of national intelligence while the president searched for a permanent candidate, according to a report from The Guardian.
“I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible,” Trump wrote in a statement on his Truth Social platform, The Guardian reported.
Clayton previously served as chair of the SEC, the top U.S. markets watchdog. He now serves as the top federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, which includes Manhattan.
The Senate will consider Clayton’s nomination to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies. The confirmation process is expected to evaluate Clayton’s qualifications for the role.