Don't Put a Securities Lawyer in Charge of U.S. Intelligence - Reject Clayton

I urge you to vote against the nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence. NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTISE IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT Federal law provides that the Director of National Intelligence should possess extensive national security expertise. Congress created this office after the September 11 intelligence failures to ensure experienced national-security leadership over the Intelligence Community. MR. CLAYTON’S BACKGROUND DOES NOT APPEAR TO SATISFY THE STANDARD CONGRESS ESTABLISHED Mr. Clayton is an accomplished attorney, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and current United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Public reporting describes Mr. Clayton’s principal experience as securities regulation, corporate law, financial markets, and federal prosecution. Those fields require judgment and managerial skill, but they are fundamentally different from intelligence collection, counterintelligence, cyber-threat assessment, covert-action oversight, and leadership of America’s intelligence agencies. The office has traditionally been filled by experienced intelligence, military, diplomatic, and national-security leaders. THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE HAS UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES The Director of National Intelligence serves as the nation’s senior intelligence official and oversees the 18 agencies that comprise the U.S. Intelligence Community, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intelligence operations. WHY THE DISTINCTION MATTERS The Director of National Intelligence is not simply a senior executive. The office coordinates intelligence organizations, evaluates foreign threats, oversees intelligence priorities, and advises the President. Congress required “extensive national security expertise” because Intelligence Community leadership requires experience that cannot be gained through success in unrelated fields. THE SENATE SHOULD PRESERVE THE STATUTORY STANDARD The phrase “extensive national security expertise” must mean something. If the Senate treats it as satisfied by a career primarily outside national security and intelligence, Congress’s qualification standard becomes meaningless. The Senate should honor both the letter and the purpose of the law by reserving this office for individuals who possess extensive national security expertise. PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS (1) VOTE NO. Vote against the nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence. (2) REQUIRE A QUALIFIED NOMINEE. Encourage the President to nominate an individual with substantial intelligence or national security leadership experience. (3) PRESERVE CONGRESSIONAL INTENT. Uphold the statutory requirement that the Director of National Intelligence possess extensive national security expertise. Thank you.