(WASHINGTON) — On Thursday, the Senate officially confirmed John Ratcliffe as the new director of the CIA, making him the second nominee from President Donald Trump to secure Senate approval for this prestigious position.
Ratcliffe previously held the role of director of national intelligence during Trump’s initial term and is now the first person to have served in both capacities. A Texas Republican, Ratcliffe has a history as a federal prosecutor and gained recognition for his vigorous defense of Trump during the impeachment hearings of his first term.
The Senate’s confirmation vote concluded with a count of 74-25, reflecting significant opposition from a number of Democratic senators.
In his recent Senate hearing, Ratcliffe highlighted the necessity for the CIA to improve its technological capabilities, emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence in countering threats from countries like Russia and China. He stressed the importance of enhancing U.S. intelligence capabilities while also protecting the civil liberties of American citizens.
If confirmed, Ratcliffe intends to advocate for the CIA to harness advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, while placing greater emphasis on human intelligence operations.
“We’re not currently where we need to be,” Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Some Democrats raised concerns about Ratcliffe’s ability to lead the CIA impartially, while Republican senators praised his extensive experience and expressed enthusiasm for confirming Trump’s remaining national security nominees.
Earlier this 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 positioned within a president’s Cabinet. However, President Joe Biden elevated this role to Cabinet status under former director William Burns, and Ratcliffe is included in Trump’s Cabinet roster.
Trump and several Republicans have criticized the CIA and other intelligence agencies for placing too much emphasis on topics like climate change and diversity initiatives.
These demands for significant reform have sparked concerns among some current and former intelligence officials who fear that such changes could undermine national security.
Ratcliffe has labeled China as America’s foremost geopolitical rival while also recognizing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and various criminal networks, hacking groups, and terrorist organizations.
He is in favor of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to collect communications from non-Americans outside the U.S. without a warrant. This practice has raised questions about potential violations of personal rights, especially when American citizens are involved in those communications.
Like many of Trump’s nominees, Ratcliffe has shown loyalty to the president. In addition to defending Trump during the impeachment proceedings, he aggressively interrogated former special counsel Robert Mueller during his testimony concerning the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
As the director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe oversaw the activities of more than a dozen intelligence agencies, including directing efforts to combat foreign influence in U.S. politics.
Originally nominated by Trump in 2019, Ratcliffe withdrew his candidacy after lawmakers expressed concerns regarding his qualifications. He was ultimately confirmed by a sharply divided Senate after Trump resubmitted his nomination.
Throughout his tenure, Ratcliffe faced accusations from Democrats of politicizing intelligence, particularly for declassifying information related to Russian activities that suggested damaging implications for Democrats, despite acknowledging the questionable accuracy of such intelligence.
Before the confirmation vote, Democrats raised concerns about whether Ratcliffe would prioritize his loyalty to Trump over his duties as CIA director, which resulted in a two-day delay in the voting process.
Looking ahead, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s second-term nominee for director of national intelligence, is anticipated to face a more complex confirmation process. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii has received bipartisan criticism due to her past supportive remarks about 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.