WASHINGTON – On Thursday, the Senate swiftly confirmed John Ratcliffe as President Donald Trump’s choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency, marking his entry as the second significant member of the Republican administration’s national security and foreign policy team.

Ratcliffe, who previously held the role of director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, secured the position with a 74-25 vote. Just hours after Trump’s inauguration, the Senate confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of the transition.

Ratcliffe had a smooth confirmation hearing on January 15, where he emphasized that political affiliations would not influence hiring or firing decisions. The former Texas congressman committed to choosing and advancing intelligence officers based solely on their skills, responding to Trump’s initiative to eliminate diversity programs within the federal government.

Both Republicans and Democrats regarded Ratcliffe as well-suited for the role due to his experience on the House intelligence committee and his background as a prominent federal prosecutor in Texas. He received bipartisan support from the Senate Intelligence Committee, passing a vote of 14-3 on Monday.

In his nomination hearing, Ratcliffe assured the committee that he would remain independent from any political influence exerted by the White House.

“This has never happened in my previous role as DNI, nor has it ever been claimed, and it’s something I’d never entertain,” Ratcliffe stated to Senator Mark Warner, the lead Democrat on the committee.

He also made commitments at his hearing to prioritize addressing the escalating threats from China and to enhance the agency’s technological tools to bolster intelligence gathering.

“Currently, we are facing what could be the most demanding national security situation in our country’s history,” Ratcliffe remarked.

“The Chinese Communist Party is determined to achieve dominance globally in economic, technological, and military spheres,” he continued. “Transnational criminal organizations are wreaking havoc in American communities with violence and lethal drugs. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, and Iran is nearer than ever to a nuclear breakout.”