(WASHINGTON) — On Thursday, the Senate approved John Ratcliffe as the new director of the CIA, making him the second individual nominated by President Donald Trump to secure Senate confirmation for this crucial position.
Ratcliffe, who previously held the role of director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, is notable for being the first person to occupy both this leadership role and that of the CIA. A Republican representative from Texas, he has a background as a federal prosecutor and gained recognition for his vigorous defense of Trump during the impeachment proceedings that occurred during the president’s initial term.
The Senate vote on Ratcliffe’s confirmation concluded with a count of 74-25, with a considerable number of Democrats expressing opposition to his nomination.
During his recent Senate hearing, Ratcliffe articulated the importance of enhancing the CIA’s technological capabilities, with a particular focus on employing artificial intelligence to combat challenges posed by countries like Russia and China. He stressed the necessity for the U.S. to strengthen its intelligence operations while also protecting the civil liberties of its citizens.
If confirmed, Ratcliffe intends to urge the CIA to capitalize on innovations in technology, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, while placing a greater emphasis on human intelligence gathering.
“We’re not where we need to be,” Ratcliffe stated during discussions with the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Some Democratic senators raised alarms about Ratcliffe’s ability to lead the CIA impartially, while Republican senators praised his extensive experience and expressed eagerness to confirm the remaining national security nominees put forward by Trump.
Earlier that week, former Florida Senator Marco Rubio was confirmed as secretary of state, marking him as the first member of Trump’s Cabinet.
The role of CIA director has not always been a Cabinet position. However, under the previous director, William Burns, President Joe Biden elevated this role to Cabinet level, and the Trump administration has included Ratcliffe in its Cabinet lineup.
Trump and several Republican leaders have criticized the CIA and other intelligence agencies for what they perceive as an excessive focus on climate change and diversity efforts.
These calls for significant reform have sparked concern among some current and former intelligence officials, who fear that such changes could jeopardize national security.
Ratcliffe has identified China as the foremost geopolitical threat to the U.S., while also acknowledging challenges posed by Russia, Iran, North Korea, and various criminal organizations, hacking groups, and terrorist entities.
He supports the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to gather communications from non-Americans located outside the U.S. without a warrant. This practice has raised questions regarding potential violations of personal rights, particularly when those communications involve American citizens.
Like many of Trump’s appointees, Ratcliffe has displayed loyalty to the president. In addition to defending Trump during impeachment, he was notably aggressive in questioning former special counsel Robert Mueller during his testimony regarding the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
In his capacity as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe oversaw and coordinated the activities of over a dozen intelligence agencies, including directing efforts to counter foreign interference in U.S. politics.
Initially nominated by Trump in 2019, Ratcliffe withdrew after lawmakers questioned his qualifications. Ultimately, he was confirmed by a divided Senate after Trump resubmitted his nomination.
During his tenure, Ratcliffe faced accusations from Democrats concerning the politicization of intelligence, especially when he declassified information about Russian activities that suggested potentially damaging information about Democrats, despite acknowledging the questionable accuracy of such intelligence.
Before the confirmation vote for Ratcliffe, Democrats expressed worries about whether he would prioritize his loyalty to Trump over his obligations as CIA director. These concerns resulted in a two-day postponement of the vote.
Looking forward, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence in his second term, is anticipated to face a more challenging confirmation process. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii has faced bipartisan criticism for her past supportive remarks regarding Russia and her meetings with Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2017.
Gabbard’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled for January 30.
