Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is “weighing seriously” naming a permanent nominee to be director of national intelligence and that he hopes Trump makes an announcement soon.
Thune’s comments come after Trump’s decision to name Bill Pulte acting director of national intelligence all but quashed the chances of passing a long-term reauthorization of a key surveillance power ahead of a Friday deadline.
The hope is that by naming a permanent nominee who would replace Pulte, enough Democrats would support extending the law known as Section 702.