The Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in a 74-25 vote on Thursday, making him the first individual to serve as both Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and CIA Director.
Ratcliffe, who previously held the role of DNI during President Donald Trump’s first term, is now the second Cabinet member to be approved in Trump’s new administration. Earlier this week, the Senate unanimously confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
CIA Director Nominee @JohnRatcliffe: “In 2020, when a chairman of an intelligence committee misrepresented that a laptop owned by then candidate Biden’s son was somehow a Russian intelligence operation… I stood in the breach. I stood alone and told the American people the truth… pic.twitter.com/5d75IK13BG
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 15, 2025
Ratcliffe’s unique career trajectory places him in a pivotal position to oversee U.S. intelligence operations. During his tenure as DNI, he was known for his staunch defense of intelligence integrity and his willingness to push back against political narratives.
The confirmation reflects bipartisan support for Ratcliffe, though it also highlighted lingering partisan divisions, as evidenced by the 25 votes against him.
During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe faced