On January 21, 2025, the U.S. Senate is set to hold a confirmation vote for John Ratcliffe, nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced the vote, highlighting Ratcliffe's commitment to refocusing the CIA on its core mission of intelligence gathering and analysis.
Ratcliffe, who previously held the position of Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term, has garnered bipartisan support from lawmakers. If confirmed, he would follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was confirmed the previous day. However, some Democratic senators have voiced concerns regarding the potential politicization of the agency, stemming from Trump's contentious relationship with the intelligence community.
During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe assured senators that he would not dismiss or pressure CIA employees based on their political beliefs or opinions. The exact timing of the confirmation vote remains uncertain.