Washington - Retired US Navy officer Joseph Maguire was appointed by President Donald Trump as acting director of National Intelligence, prior to the upcioming resignation of current director, Dan Coats.

President Trump will also have to replace Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon, who also resigned, and whose stepping down will coincide with that of Coats, on August 15.

Although the president recognized Gordon as 'a great professional with a long and distinguished career,' whose work in the last two years he respected, he noted she will resign on August 15.

Coats announced his resignation as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in late July amid disagreements with Trump on diverse issues.

According to NBC News, Coats had recommended the deputy director as his replacement, but White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told him they had someone else in mind. Hence, Gordon submitted her resignation.

According to the media, the resignation of Gordon, with a career in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), could arouse annoyance from Republican senators and democrats who vigorously supported her.

Coats, DNI since March 2017, resigned after a stage marked by disagreements over Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the president's attacks on the US intelligence community.

Trump nominated Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe to replace Coats, but he had to retract the proposal on August 2 amid questions about the legislator's credentials to fill the post.