President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will be nominating James McDonald as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
McDonald, a former assistant U.S. attorney in that office, previously served as Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Trump’s first term. He is currently a senior partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
“A native of the Great State of Oklahoma, Jamie is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, and served as Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission during my First Term. I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as he has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, our Law Enforcement Patriots, the Legal Community, and the Judicial Bench,” the president announced in a Truth Social post. “Good luck Jamie, I have no doubt about your future greatness!”
The nomination follows Trump’s earlier decision to nominate the current SDNY U.S. Attorney, Jay Clayton, for the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The president announced earlier this week his intention to nominate Clayton, who had been serving as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York after his own confirmation in May 2025. Clayton previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first administration.
President Donald Trump plans to nominate Jamie McDonald to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. McDonald previously led the CFTC’s enforcement division. pic.twitter.com/bqxqeGRFmM
— Declan Harty (@declanharty) June 13, 2026
The move to nominate Clayton came just days after Trump nominated Bill Pulte, the current director of U.S. Federal Housing, to replace Tulsi Gabbard in the key role after she was forced to resign due to her husband’s tragic cancer diagnosis. Pulte’s nomination was met with significant pushback in the Senate, including among pro-Trump Republican senators, which forced the president to reconsider.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York holds one of the most prestigious positions within the Department of Justice. The office, often referred to as the “Sovereign District of New York,” handles a wide array of significant federal cases, including those involving securities fraud, public corruption, terrorism, organized crime, and complex financial matters.
Its jurisdiction covers Manhattan, the Bronx, and several surrounding counties, placing it at the center of many high-stakes investigations due to New York City’s role as a global financial hub. The SDNY is widely regarded as one of the busiest and most influential U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country, with a long history of prosecuting prominent cases that shape national legal and policy precedents.
