WASHINGTON, July 28. /TASS/. During a procedural vote, the US Senate endorsed Jay Clayton’s nomination to serve as Director of National Intelligence, according to the C-SPAN broadcast of the session.

Fifty-one senators voted to end debate and proceed to a vote on Clayton’s confirmation, while 43 voted against it. The final vote is expected to take place on July 29.

On June 11, President Donald Trump nominated Clayton, the former chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, to be the top spy. The Director of National Intelligence coordinates all 18 US intelligence agencies.

On July 21, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence recommended that the upper chamber of Congress confirm Clayton’s nomination.