The director of national intelligence’s office was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Now some lawmakers want to shrink it.

The Senate Intelligence Committee postponed a nomination hearing for Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence hours after President Donald Trump declared the session would not go forward,

Any delay, and continuation of acting DNI Bill Pulte in the role, is likely to endanger the reauthorization of a key U.S. intelligence authority.

An empty Senate Intelligence Committee room summed up the mood Wednesday afternoon during what was supposed to be an easy step in Majority Leader John Thune’s plan to revive a lapsed surveillance authority.

The Senate postponed the hearing after Trump derailed the process. Sen. Tom Cotton said the president directed Jay Clayton, the DNI nominee, not to appear.

The two, whom President Trump nominated as acting director and director of national intelligence, have both prepared to take over the office.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggests that confirming a director of national intelligence could be the key to unlocking FISA. “Jay Clayton is an eminently qualified individual to become the new director of national intelligence,” Thune told members of the press Tuesday afternoon. “We are looking forward to processing him this week.”