Washington, DC [US]: John Ratcliffe has been confirmed by the Senate as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), marking a significant appointment under the second Trump administration. This follows the earlier confirmation of Marco Rubio as the US Secretary of State.
The White House confirmed the news in a post on X, stating, “@JohnRatcliffe’s confirmation as Director of the CIA marks a significant step in advancing President Trump’s vision to restore America’s strength on the world stage.”
The opportunity to lead America’s intelligence enterprise as the Director of National Intelligence has been a greater privilege and blessing than I could have possibly imagined. My sincere gratitude always—it’s been an amazing ride. Thank you and God Bless the USA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/oyfSkUUdDP
— John Ratcliffe (@JohnRatcliffe) January 20, 2021
The Senate confirmed Ratcliffe’s appointment with 74 votes in favor and 25 against, while one senator abstained. The confirmation, which required only a simple majority, reflected a substantial margin of 49 votes. The vote occurred during the first session of the 119th Congress.
Historic Background:
Ratcliffe previously served as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from May 2020 to January 2021, becoming the first individual to hold both the DNI and CIA Director roles. During his tenure as DNI, Ratcliffe prioritized countering strategic threats from the People’s Republic of China and oversaw operations targeting terrorist leaders.
In a historic move, he elevated space as a priority intelligence domain by integrating the US Space Force as the 18th member of the US Intelligence Community. Ratcliffe’s contributions earned him the National Security Medal, the highest honor for distinguished achievement in intelligence and national security.
Prior to his role as DNI, Ratcliffe represented Texas’s 4th Congressional District for over five years, where he served on the House Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Judiciary Committees. He was recognized as a leading policymaker on national security issues.