Senate confirms Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence

WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - The Senate has confirmed a new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) after weeks of political gridlock.

The Senate voted 51 to 47 along party lines to confirm U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as the nation's next DNI, ending a months-long confirmation stalemate.

Clayton takes over as lawmakers work to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) a key national security program that lapsed after democrats blocked its extension amid concerns over leadership at the intelligence agency.

Following Tulsi Gabbard's resignation in May, President Donald Trump named Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as Acting DNI, despite his lack of intelligence experience.

The moved prompted nearly every Senate Democrat to oppose advancing FISA reauthorization.