Encyclopedia · Biography
Jay Clayton
Former SEC chairman, federal prosecutor and U.S. director of national intelligence
Personal details
- Full name
- Walter Joseph “Jay” Clayton III
- Born
- July 11, 1966
- Education
- University of Pennsylvania; Cambridge University; University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Prior offices
- SEC chair (2017–2020); U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York (2025–2026)
- Office
- Director of National Intelligence (since August 3, 2026)
Jay Clayton is an American attorney and federal official who became director of national intelligence in August 2026, following service as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Education and corporate-law career
Clayton studied engineering and law at the University of Pennsylvania and economics at Cambridge as a Thouron Scholar. He worked at Sullivan & Cromwell, where he became a partner and leader in corporate and cybersecurity practice. Between government appointments he held governance roles at Apollo Global Management and American Express and taught at the University of Pennsylvania.
SEC and federal prosecution
Trump appointed Clayton SEC chairman in 2017; he served until December 2020. In 2025 he became U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, overseeing federal prosecutions. Those offices had different legal mandates, and a securities regulatory action should not be conflated with a later criminal investigation.
National-intelligence appointment
Trump nominated Clayton as DNI in 2026; the Senate confirmed him July 28 and he took office August 3. As DNI he oversees integration of the intelligence community; the CIA director reports to the DNI. That establishes an institutional chain connecting Clayton and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, not an inference about their private activities.
References
Research compiled November 13, 2026. Open questions belong in a separate research note, not in the public text.
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Documented connections
These are specifically described relationships in public records. A shared institution, appointment or event does not by itself demonstrate coordination or wrongdoing.
- Donald Trump (person) — appointments: Trump appointed Clayton to SEC, then U.S. Attorney for SDNY and finally DNI · 2017–2020; 2025–2026
- John Ratcliffe (person) — statutory intelligence reporting: CIA Director Ratcliffe reports to DNI Clayton by statute, from Clayton assumption of office · August 2026 onward
- Todd Blanche (person) — federal prosecutorial hierarchy: Clayton served as U.S. Attorney in SDNY while Blanche served in Justice leadership; not evidence of individual case coordination · 2025–2026