Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) will potentially replace the president’s current interim director of national intelligence after his term ends in a few weeks, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien is pushing the president to nominate Stewart, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, according to the Times.
The post is currently filled by Joseph Maguire, who was put in as acting director after Dan Coats resigned in August. Under U.S. law, somebody can only be an acting cabinet member for 210 days, so the White House will have to replace Maguire by March 11. It’s also possible the administration could formally nominate Maguire to the position.
The last person Trump nominated to the position was Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), whose nomination was withdrawn after it was revealed he may have lied on his resume. Ratcliffe, a member of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, was one of the president’s fiercest defenders during the House impeachment hearings, much like Stewart.
Though Stewart has reportedly been eyeing the post, the nomination would require he leave his seat in Congress as he faces a primary and general election opponents.
Stewart’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.