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The Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Thursday (January 23), marking a significant addition to President Donald Trump's national security team. Ratcliffe, who previously served as the Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term, was confirmed with a 74-25 vote.
During his confirmation hearing on January 15, Ratcliffe emphasized his commitment to merit-based hiring and promotion within the CIA, distancing himself from political influences. He assured the Senate Intelligence Committee that he would resist any political pressure from the White House, stating, "If you look at my record as DNI, that never took place. That is never something anyone has alleged, and it is something that I would never do."
Ratcliffe's nomination received bipartisan support, with the Senate Intelligence Committee voting 14-3 in favor of his appointment. Both Republicans and Democrats praised his qualifications, citing his experience as a former member of the House Intelligence Committee and a top federal prosecutor in Texas.
In his new role, Ratcliffe plans to address the growing threat from China and enhance the CIA's technological capabilities to improve intelligence collection. He highlighted the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party, transnational criminal organizations, and ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine War.