Federal Policy

Trump Nominates James McDonald to Lead SDNY After Clayton Exits

The Southern District of New York, which has prosecuted cases against sitting presidents' associates and major financial institutions, will have its third leader in under two years if the Senate...

The Congressional Times · June 13, 2026

President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate James M. McDonald as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, according to a Fox News report published June 13, 2026, citing a White House announcement. McDonald would replace Jay Clayton, who previously held the post and has since been nominated by Trump to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump's first term, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the SDNY in 2020. His nomination to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence created the vacancy McDonald is now being tapped to fill, according to the Fox News report. The Senate confirmation timeline for either nominee was not specified in the source material.

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The Southern District of New York is among the most prominent federal prosecutorial offices in the country, with jurisdiction over Manhattan, the Bronx, and several surrounding counties. It has historically handled high-profile cases involving financial fraud, public corruption, and national security. The office is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice, and its U.S. Attorney serves at the pleasure of the president subject to Senate confirmation under 28 U.S.C. § 541.

McDonald's professional background, prior government or legal positions, and any relevant financial disclosures were not detailed in the available source material. A full nominee disclosure, including any prior lobbying registrations under the Lobbying Disclosure Act or campaign contributions filed with the Federal Election Commission, would be found in McDonald's Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire once submitted as part of the confirmation process.

What remains unknown as of publication: the date of McDonald's formal nomination transmission to the Senate, whether the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing, and the full scope of McDonald's prior legal career. Those details would be contained in the official White House nomination announcement on whitehouse.gov and McDonald's Senate Judiciary questionnaire, neither of which had been publicly released in full at the time of this report.

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