The US Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence on Tuesday in a 51-47 vote that fell strictly along party lines, with no defections from either side.
Clayton, who previously served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during President Donald Trump's first term, takes over from acting director Bill Pulte, who has held the post temporarily since June. His confirmation ends a stalemate that had delayed reauthorization of FISA Section 702, a key surveillance authority.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on 15 July, which advanced his nomination on a 9-8 committee vote, Clayton declined to state outright that Trump lost the 2020 election, drawing scrutiny from Democrats.