In a 74-25 vote on Thursday, the Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as the new CIA director, marking a pivotal intelligence appointment for President Donald Trump’s administration. Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman and Trump’s director of national intelligence during the final months of his first term, won the support of 21 Democrats, joining Republican senators to secure his confirmation.
Ratcliffe was sworn in shortly after the vote by Vice President JD Vance.
During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe promised to uphold the independence of the CIA, pledging to keep politics out of intelligence decisions. “My sole responsibility is to ensure the agency operates based on facts, not political pressure,” Ratcliffe said. He also vowed to avoid loyalty tests in hiring or firing CIA personnel, addressing concerns raised during the confirmation process.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., voiced strong opposition to Ratcliffe’s appointment, saying, “I am deeply worried that Mr. Ratcliffe will be unable to stand up to people like Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, who are known to falsify intelligence. As CIA director, Mr. Ratcliffe will have to make decisions based on intelligence and fact.”
Ratcliffe’s confirmation marks his second contentious Senate approval. In 2020, he faced narrow confirmation as director of national intelligence after questions emerged about his national security credentials and alleged résumé exaggerations.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushed to fast-track Ratcliffe’s vote amidst efforts to confirm other key Trump nominees. Thune defended the urgency, stating, “The American people deserve a fully staffed administration to address the challenges we face.”
The confirmation comes as the Senate gears up to vote on other high-profile appointments, including Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, Kristi Noem for homeland security, and Scott Bessent for treasury secretary. Thune hinted at the possibility of weekend sessions to expedite the process, warning Democrats against stalling tactics.
As Ratcliffe takes the helm at the CIA, he faces the challenge of balancing loyalty to the administration with maintaining the agency’s credibility as a nonpartisan institution.