Politics · Senate confirms DNI · ArchiveSenate Confirms Jay Clayton as DNI in 51-47 VoteAired July 29, 2026 at 7:20 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as0:01director of national intelligence last0:03night, voting 51 to 47 along party0:05lines. The vote was 51 to 47.0:12At his confirmation hearing, Clayton0:14repeatedly refused to say that Joe Biden0:16won the 2020 election, saying only that0:18the election was certified. He inherits0:20an intelligence agency that is being0:22downsized. The acting director announced0:25a 30% staff reduction weeks ago, a 30%0:28cut in personnel.0:33Now lawmakers are demanding details0:34about those cuts, raising concerns about0:37the agency's direction under new0:38leadership. Clayton takes over as the0:40agency faces scrutiny.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗