Trump Nominee John Ratcliffe Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing for CIA Director on January 15, 2025

Jan 15, 2025, 04:19 PM

John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA Director, faced a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 15, 2025. Ratcliffe, who previously served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term, emphasized the need for the CIA to enhance its technology and human intelligence capabilities to counter global threats. He assured senators that the agency must stay ahead of threats posed by adversaries such as Russia, China, and others, and promised to prioritize the CIA's mission over political biases. Ratcliffe's experience and his commitment to depoliticizing the agency were highlighted, alongside his plans to increase the use of artificial intelligence and human intelligence collection. He also vowed to maintain the CIA's focus on its core mission, amid criticisms of the agency's recent focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.