The Senate confirmed with a large majority John Ratcliffe as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), integrating another central member of President Donald Trump’s national security team.
Ratcliffe, 59, a loyal defender of Trump who was director of national intelligence during the president’s first term, emphasized in his confirmation hearings the need to face threats from China and other US opponents.
He was confirmed on Thursday with 74 votes in favor and 25 against, being the second nominated by Trump approved by the Senate after the confirmation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday.
Ratcliffe won the support of Senate Intelligence Committee leaders, including Virginia’s main committee’s democrat, after ensuring Warner that, under his leadership, the agency would produce objective analyzes and protect CIA employees against political interference. . He promised to “tell the truth to power” and to protect the civil freedoms of Americans.
This stance marks a significant difference compared to 2020, when the former republican prosecutor and promoter of Texas faced the unified opposition of the Democrats when confirmed as director of Trump’s national intelligence.
Ratcliffe, who previously removed his candidacy for this position due to accusations of exaggerating his qualifications, ended up gaining republican support after his forceful defense of Trump during the former president’s first impeachment. At the time, the Democrats expressed concern that Ratcliffe would follow Trump’s political orders or distort intelligence information.
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Most leader in the Senate, John Thune, praised Ratcliffe’s experience and said he will provide “objective and impartial intelligence analysis.”
Other nominees from Trump’s second term, including Pete Hegseth to the Defense Department and Tulsi Gabbard, former consisting chosen by Trump for the former position of Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence, faces a more sharp opposition.
Hegseth’s combative confirmation hearing has failed to dispel democratic concerns about allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive alcohol consumption and financial management in two non -profit organizations he administered. Democrats also questioned their ability to lead the complex budget and bureaucracy of the $ 850 billion department.
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