Aug 1 (Reuters) - Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill ​Pulte posted on Saturday that the transition ‌for Jay Clayton to take over the job will take place on Monday.

U.S. Senate Republicans confirmed Clayton's nomination this ​week to be the nation's top spy despite ​opposition from Democrats following an angry confirmation ⁠hearing.

Pulte wrote in a social media post on ​Saturday that "the DNI transition will take place this ​coming Monday."

Clayton, who has been the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, will oversee 18 U.S. intelligence ​agencies.

He steps into a role that was ​vacated in June when Tulsi Gabbard stepped down after a tenure ‌marked ⁠by clashes with congressional Democrats, who accused her of advancing U.S. President Donald Trump's political agenda and promoting debunked election claims.

Democrats during Clayton's confirmation hearings criticized ​him for ​repeatedly refusing ⁠during his testimony to directly acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to ​Democrat Joe Biden.

Pulte, who is also Trump's ​Federal Housing ⁠Finance Agency director, ordered layoffs of intelligence staff after he assumed the interim intelligence position in ⁠June.

His ​appointment drew criticism from the Democrats ​for his lack of national security expertise.