WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate confirmed former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as the next director of the CIA on Thursday.

The Senate Intelligence Committee Monday advanced, 14-3, the nomination of John Ratcliffe, President Trump's pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, with the backing of four Democrats and Sen. Angus King,

Ratcliffe, Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence, sought to reassure senators that he would remain apolitical in his role as CIA director.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune had called out Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy for delaying the vote on a “key national security position.”

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as director of the CIA, the second of President Trump’s nominees to earn the chamber’s approval.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.

Ratcliffe, the former director of national intelligence in the final months of Trump’s first term, drew controversy over perceived politicization of intelligence assessments.

The former Texas lawmaker and prosecutor was Trump's national intelligence director in his first term. He vowed to reject White House political pressure

The final vote to ratify Ratcliffe as new CIA Director was 74-25; 21 Democrats voted along with every present Republican

The U.S. Senate is expected to hold a confirmation vote on Tuesday on John Ratcliffe, President Donald Trump's nominee for CIA Director, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.

Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence during President Trump’s first term. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All market data delayed 20 minutes.