**Washington, D.C.** – During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the CIA leadership, emphasized the need for the agency to enhance its proactive measures against global threats, especially those from Russia, China, and other adversaries. Ratcliffe, who previously held the position of director of national intelligence during Trump’s presidency, indicated to senators that if he is confirmed, he plans to advocate for the incorporation of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing to improve intelligence operations alongside a stronger focus on human intelligence gathering.
“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe stated while addressing the Senate Intelligence Committee. He articulated his perspective that China represents the most significant geopolitical threat to the United States, while also identifying Russia, Iran, North Korea, and various criminal and terrorist organizations as notable challenges to national security.
While Ratcliffe received commendations from Republican members for his experience, Democrats and an independent senator expressed apprehensions. They questioned whether Ratcliffe’s allegiance to Trump might interfere with his ability to impartially follow intelligence investigations. He reassured the committee, asserting that the CIA’s mission would remain his top priority.
“Will you or any of your staff impose a political litmus test for CIA employees?” asked Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine.
“No,” Ratcliffe replied firmly.
Ratcliffe conveyed his support for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to gather communications of non-Americans outside U.S. borders without a warrant. He noted that conversations could also include interactions with Americans, raising concerns over potential infringements on privacy rights. However, Ratcliffe emphasized that protections are in place to preserve Americans’ privacy.
“Is it perfect? No,” he acknowledged, “but it is critical, it is indispensable.”
Before entering politics, Ratcliffe was a federal prosecutor and later served in Congress, representing a district in Texas. He was a staunch supporter of Trump during his impeachment hearings in the House. After a two-hour inquiry period, the committee shifted Ratcliffe’s hearing to a closed session to address sensitive information.
This hearing is part of an extensive session as the Republican-controlled Senate aims to expedite the confirmation of Trump’s nominees ahead of Inauguration Day on Monday. Ratcliffe’s previous experience as director of national intelligence, along with his Senate confirmation for that role, likely strengthens his position this year, particularly in contrast to Trump’s previous nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which received backlash from both sides of the political spectrum due to her past comments and associations.
Trump and his allies have frequently criticized the CIA and other intelligence entities, suggesting that they have diverted their focus to less pressing matters, such as climate change and workforce diversity. Sen. Tom Cotton, the committee chairman from Arkansas, pointed to recent attacks, including one in New Orleans, and lamented that these events went unanticipated by intelligence officials.
“In these dangerous times, our intelligence agencies haven’t anticipated major events or detected impending attacks,” Cotton remarked during the hearing. “We are often left in the dark… The CIA has neglected its core mission.”
Current and former intelligence personnel have expressed concern that demands for significant reforms could compromise national security. If confirmed, Ratcliffe would succeed William Burns as CIA Director, making him the first individual to hold both the CIA and ODNI director positions.
Trump initially nominated Ratcliffe for the ODNI position in 2019, but he withdrew amid concerns over his qualifications. However, he was later confirmed by a sharply divided Senate after Trump submitted his nomination again.
In his role as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe coordinated operations across various intelligence agencies, with responsibilities that included detecting and counteracting foreign efforts to sway U.S. politics. Known for his loyalty to Trump, Ratcliffe had previously defended the former president during impeachment proceedings and raised significant challenges to former special counsel Robert Mueller during his testimony regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
As director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe faced accusations from Democrats regarding the politicization of intelligence when he declassified Russian information that allegedly targeted Democrats during the 2016 election, even admitting the accuracy of the information was questionable.
