Tom Cotton

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Wednesday that Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing will go ahead as planned unless President Donald Trump decides to withdraw the nomination or directs Clayton not to appear.

Trump said in a social media post just hours before the hearing that he will keep Bill Pulte, a top U.S. housing official, as acting director of national intelligence in a bid to force Congress to act on a voter ID bill that currently lacks enough support for passage.

Clayton is set to appear on Wednesday for a Senate confirmation hearing that was fast-tracked because of the program's lapse. Democrats had said they would not renew the expired surveillance programs until Trump withdrew the selection of Pulte.