John Ratcliffe Confirmed as CIA Director with Bipartisan Support

2025-01-24

The U.S. Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on January 23, 2025, with a bipartisan vote of 74-25. Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during President Donald Trump’s first term, becomes the first person to hold both the DNI and CIA director roles. His confirmation marks the second high-level appointment for Trump’s administration, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s confirmation earlier in the week.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe emphasized his commitment to depoliticizing the CIA, vowing to hire and promote employees based on merit rather than political views. He also pledged to focus on modernizing the agency’s technological capabilities and addressing emerging threats, particularly from China, which he described as a top national security challenge. Ratcliffe’s nomination faced some Democratic opposition, with critics questioning his loyalty to Trump over institutional norms, but he ultimately garnered support from 20 Democrats and one independent.

Ratcliffe’s confirmation comes as the Republican-led Senate moves swiftly to approve Trump’s nominees for key national security positions. His appointment signals a continuation of Trump’s focus on countering China and upgrading U.S. intelligence capabilities, while his past experience as DNI provides a unique perspective on coordinating intelligence efforts across agencies. Ratcliffe replaces Bill Burns, who had served as CIA director under President Joe Biden.

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