The US Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday evening in a 51-47 vote, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
Clayton previously served as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Outgoing Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte carried out a fifth round of personnel terminations earlier on Tuesday, resulting in an approximately 30 percent reduction in staff.
Pulte stated that the Intelligence Community exists to protect the American people rather than serve political interests.
Separately, President Trump announced the appointment of James M. McDonald as the next US Attorney for the Southern District of New York to succeed Clayton.
McDonald previously served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York and as Director of Enforcement at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
He is currently a senior partner at Sullivan and Cromwell and previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
McDonald is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Harvard College.
