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How The Senate Voted to Confirm John Ratcliffe as C.I.A. Director

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The Senate voted 74 to 25 to confirm John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s former intelligence director, as director of the C.I.A.

Note: Confirmation requires a simple majority of voting senators.

Mr. Ratcliffe was known as a loyalist to the president when he served as director of national intelligence in the final year of the first Trump administration. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week, he promised to lead a more aggressive spy agency.

How Every Member Voted



On Tuesday, the Senate voted to confirm John Ratcliffe as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.). Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, was nominated by President Trump for the position earlier this year.

The vote was largely split along party lines, with the majority of Republicans supporting Ratcliffe’s confirmation and most Democrats opposing it. Despite concerns from some Democrats about Ratcliffe’s lack of experience in the intelligence community, he was ultimately approved by a vote of 49-44.

Ratcliffe’s confirmation comes at a time of heightened tensions with foreign adversaries and ongoing threats to national security. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the C.I.A.’s intelligence gathering and analysis efforts, as well as providing critical information to policymakers and military leaders.

It remains to be seen how Ratcliffe will approach the challenges facing the C.I.A. in the coming months, but his confirmation marks a significant step in solidifying the leadership of one of the nation’s most important intelligence agencies. Stay tuned for updates on his progress in the role.

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Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead America’s premier spy agency and his second nominee to win Senate approval.

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA. The Texas Republican is a former federal prosecutor who emerged as a fierce Trump defender while serving as a congressman during Trump’s first impeachment.

The vote was 74-25, with many Democrats voting no.

At his Senate hearing last week, Ratcliffe said the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology such as artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China. He said the United States needed to improve its intelligence capabilities while also ensuring the protection of Americans’ civil rights.

Ratcliffe said he would push the CIA to do more to harness technologies such as AI and quantum computing while expanding use of human intelligence collection.

“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

While some Democrats raised questions about Ratcliffe’s ability to lead the CIA objectively, Republicans hailed his experience and said they looked forward to confirming the rest of Trump’s national security nominees.

Ratcliffe was sworn into office shortly after winning Senate confirmation.

Former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed earlier this week as secretary of state, the first member of Trump’s Cabinet.

The CIA director has not always been a part of a president’s Cabinet, though President Joe Biden elevated the position to Cabinet level under Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, and Trump’s White House lists Ratcliffe as a Cabinet member.

Trump and other Republicans have criticized the work of the CIA and other spy agencies, saying they have focused too much on climate change, workforce diversity and other issues.

The calls for a broad overhaul have worried some current and former intelligence officials who say the changes could make the country less safe.

Ratcliffe has said he views China as America’s greatest geopolitical rival, and that Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also pose challenges to national security.

He supports the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a government spying program that allows authorities to collect without warrant the communications of non-Americans outside the country. If those people are communicating with Americans, those conversations can be swept up, too, which has led to questions about violations of personal rights.

Like other Trump nominees, Ratcliffe is a Trump loyalist. Aside from his work to defend Trump during his first impeachment proceedings, Ratcliffe also forcefully questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller when he testified before lawmakers about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

As director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe oversaw and coordinated the work of more than a dozen spy agencies. Among other duties, the office directs efforts to detect and counter foreign efforts to influence U.S. politics.

Trump picked Ratcliffe to serve in that position in 2019, but he quickly withdrew from consideration after lawmakers raised questions about his qualifications. He was ultimately confirmed by a sharply divided Senate after Trump resubmitted the nomination.

In that job, Ratcliffe was accused by Democrats of politicizing intelligence when he declassified Russian intelligence that purported to reveal information about Democrats during the 2016 election even as he acknowledged the information might not be accurate.

Before Thursday’s confirmation vote Democrats questioned whether Ratcliffe would place his loyalty to Trump ahead of the duties of the office. Concerns raised by Democrats earlier in the week forced the Senate to postpone Ratcliffe’s confirmation vote by two days.

Trump’s second-term nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, likely faces a tougher road to confirmation. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has faced bipartisan criticism over past comments supportive of Russia and 2017 meetings with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Gabbard’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled for Jan. 30.





The United States Senate has officially confirmed John Ratcliffe as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Ratcliffe, who previously served as the Director of National Intelligence, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this crucial role.

In his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering and analysis in protecting the nation’s security interests. He pledged to work closely with the intelligence community and other government agencies to ensure that the CIA remains at the forefront of defending the country against threats both at home and abroad.

Ratcliffe’s nomination was met with bipartisan support in the Senate, with lawmakers praising his commitment to national security and his proven track record in intelligence and national defense matters. As the new head of the CIA, Ratcliffe will undoubtedly face many challenges, but his leadership and dedication to the mission of the agency will undoubtedly serve the nation well.

Join us in congratulating John Ratcliffe on his confirmation as the new Director of the CIA. We look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on our nation’s security in the years to come.

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Trump CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed by Senate

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Today, the Senate has officially confirmed John Ratcliffe as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under the Trump administration. Ratcliffe, a former Congressman from Texas, was nominated by President Trump earlier this year and has now been approved by the Senate in a close vote.

Ratcliffe’s confirmation comes at a critical time for the CIA, as the agency faces numerous challenges both domestically and internationally. With his background in national security and intelligence, Ratcliffe is expected to bring a wealth of experience to the role and help lead the CIA in its mission to protect the nation’s interests.

As the new CIA Director, Ratcliffe will be tasked with overseeing the agency’s operations, providing intelligence to the President and other key officials, and ensuring the safety and security of the United States. His confirmation is seen as a positive step towards strengthening the country’s intelligence capabilities and addressing the ongoing threats facing the nation.

We congratulate John Ratcliffe on his confirmation and wish him success in his new role as the Director of the CIA. Let’s continue to support and uphold the important work of our intelligence agencies in keeping our country safe and secure.

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Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to be Trump’s CIA director

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WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to confirm John Ratcliffe as the next CIA director under President Donald Trump, approving the second high-level appointment for the new administration.

The vote was 74-25 in favor of Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas who served as Trump’s director of national intelligence for the last eight months of his first term.

Republican leaders failed to achieve unanimous support to fast-track Ratcliffe’s nomination to the floor earlier this week and had to jump through some procedural hoops.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he opposed Ratcliffe “not because of our political difference, which of course exists — but because 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.”

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is Trump’s nominee to be the director of national intelligence.

During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe promised to keep politics out of decisions involving intelligence and said he wouldn’t use loyalty tests as a basis for hiring or firing CIA personnel.

In May 2020, Ratcliffe was confirmed to be Trump’s DNI by a narrow vote in the Senate of 49-44, facing sweeping Democratic opposition due to concerns about his qualifications and concerns about exaggerating national security credentials on his resume.

Thursday’s vote came three days after the Senate voted unanimously to fast-track and confirm Marco Rubio as secretary of state hours after Trump was inaugurated.

Other Trump nominees might have an even harder time than Ratcliffe in receiving swift votes, as any one senator can prevent that. Any nominee who faces an objection could take several days to get a confirmation vote in the Senate.

But all nominees require 51 votes to be confirmed — or 50, with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President JD Vance.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has teed up votes next on Trump’s nominees for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, and secretary of homeland security, Kristi Noem. Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department, Scott Bessent, is expected to come up next.

Thune has threatened to keep the Senate in session over the weekend if Democrats don’t relent and allow speedy votes, accusing them of “stalling President Trump’s nominees.”

“If Democrats want to spend their nights and weekends taking votes on uncontroversial nominees, we can do it that way,” he said in a floor speech Thursday. “But one way or the other, these nominees will be confirmed.”




On Thursday, the Senate officially confirmed John Ratcliffe to be President Trump’s new CIA director. Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, has been a staunch supporter of the President and his policies.

Many Republicans praised Ratcliffe’s confirmation, citing his experience as a former prosecutor and his commitment to national security. Democrats, however, expressed concerns about Ratcliffe’s lack of intelligence experience and his past criticisms of the intelligence community.

Despite the controversy surrounding his nomination, Ratcliffe is now set to lead the CIA and oversee the nation’s intelligence operations. It remains to be seen how he will handle the challenges and responsibilities of this important role.

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Senate poised to confirm John Ratcliffe as CIA director

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Washington — The Senate is poised to confirm John Ratcliffe as CIA director on Thursday as Republicans work to approve officials to the top posts in President Trump’s administration amid delays by Democrats.

Senate Democrats slowed Ratcliffe’s confirmation after his nomination advanced out of committee earlier this week, forcing procedural maneuvers to extend consideration of his nomination in recent days. Still, Ratcliffe’s nomination was advanced with wide margins in a 72-26 procedural vote Thursday morning.

Sen. John Barrasso, the Republican whip, celebrated that the Senate was poised to confirm Ratcliffe’s nomination, calling it “a win for our national security,” while noting that it “should have been done two days ago.”

“But Democrats unnecessarily delayed this important vote,” Barrasso continued. “John Ratcliffe is undeniably qualified for the job, he’s going to lead the CIA without bias, and with the safety of the American people being his priority.”

On Tuesday, Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, objected to a time agreement that would have allowed the Senate to quickly vote on Ratcliffe’s nomination, expressing “serious concerns” about Ratcliffe’s ability to distance himself from Mr. Trump’s political interests and urging that it wasn’t too much to ask for senators to have time to debate the nomination on the floor.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. 

Andrew Harnik / Getty Images


Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, served as director of national intelligence in the final months of Mr. Trump’s first term. Mr. Trump had initially picked Ratcliffe to lead the nation’s spy agencies earlier in his first term, but withdrew his name amid questions about his qualifications for the role. Months later, Mr. Trump again nominated Ratcliffe, and the Senate confirmed him as director of national intelligence without any support from Democrats. 

Testifying last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ratcliffe said he’s devoted his professional life to national security “for roughly a quarter of a century.” And he promised that if confirmed, he would focus on “setting and communicating priorities and demanding relentless execution.” 

He pledged that if was confirmed, the CIA would be rededicated to its intelligence-gathering mission.

“We will collect intelligence — especially human intelligence — in every corner of the globe, no matter how dark or difficult,” Ratcliffe said.

Ratcliffe served on the House Intelligence Committee and House Judiciary Committee during his time in Congress and was a staunch defender of Mr. Trump through his first impeachment and investigations into Russian election interference. Democrats criticized Ratcliffe for declassifying Russian intelligence alleging damaging information about members of their party during the 2016 race, intelligence that Ratcliffe acknowledged might not be true.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday morning that he would “respectfully vote no” on Ratcliffe’s confirmation, saying he’s “deeply worried that Mr. Ratcliffe will be unable to stand up to people like Donald Trump.”

“I have my doubts that Mr. Ratcliffe will be able to hold firm,” Schumer added.

Despite the concern from Democrats, Ratcliffe is considered to be a more traditional choice than some of Mr. Trump’s other nominations after previously serving in a Senate-confirmed position. The Senate also generally prioritizes nominees serving in national security roles when a new administration begins. 

Ratcliffe told the intelligence committee that the U.S. faces “what may be the most challenging national security environment in our nation’s history,” saying that the challenges “increase the necessity of confirming a CIA director who is prepared on Day 1 to take them head-on.”

Caitlin Yilek

contributed to this report.

Kaia Hubbard

Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.



The Senate is gearing up to confirm John Ratcliffe as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas and staunch ally of President Trump, is expected to secure enough votes for confirmation in the coming days.

Ratcliffe’s nomination has been met with mixed reactions from lawmakers, with Democrats raising concerns about his lack of intelligence experience and his close ties to the Trump administration. However, Republican senators have expressed confidence in Ratcliffe’s abilities and have indicated their support for his nomination.

If confirmed, Ratcliffe will be tasked with leading the CIA during a time of heightened global tensions and increasing threats to national security. His background in national security and his tenure on the House Intelligence Committee are expected to serve him well in this critical role.

Stay tuned for updates as the Senate moves forward with the confirmation process for John Ratcliffe as the next director of the CIA.

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