Republicans are quick to praise John Ratcliffe’s qualifications while Democrats doubt his ability to lead CIA impartially, but some Republicans express reservations about Trump’s contentious Pentagon selection of Pete Hegseth.
John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump’s second-ever Senate-approved choice to head America’s top spy agency, was confirmed as CIA director by the US Senate, while Pete Hegseth, the president’s Pentagon pick, was advanced.
During Trump’s first term, Ratcliffe served as the first person to hold both the top CIA position and the title of director of national intelligence.
While serving as a congressman during Trump’s first impeachment, the Texas Republican—a former federal prosecutor—became an ardent Trump supporter.
Many Democrats voted no in Thursday’s 74-25 vote.
Ratcliffe stated during his Senate hearing last week that the CIA needs to improve its use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to challenge China and Russia. According to him, the United States must safeguard the civil liberties of its citizens while also enhancing its intelligence capabilities.
Ratcliffe stated that despite increasing the use of human intelligence gathering, he would encourage the CIA to do more to utilize technology like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe informed Senate Intelligence Committee Senators.
Demands a comprehensive revamp
Republicans praised Ratcliffe’s credentials and said they were eager to confirm the rest of Trump’s national security choices, while several Democrats questioned his ability to head the CIA impartially.
Shortly after receiving Senate confirmation, Ratcliffe took the oath of office.
The first member of Trump’s Cabinet, Marco Rubio, was approved earlier this week as secretary of state.
Although former President Joe Biden promoted the CIA director to Cabinet level under Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, and Trump’s White House names Ratcliffe as a Cabinet member, the CIA director has not always been a member of a president’s Cabinet.
The work of the CIA and other spy organizations has been criticized by Trump and other Republicans, who claim that they have placed too much emphasis on subjects like workforce diversity and climate change.
Some current and former intelligence officers are concerned about the proposals for a comprehensive revamp, arguing that the changes could make the nation less secure.
In addition to Russia, Iran, North Korea, and drug cartels, hacker gangs, and terrorist organizations, Ratcliffe has stated that he considers China to be America’s biggest geopolitical adversary.
He backs the federal espionage program known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which enables authorities to obtain, without a warrant, the communications of non-Americans abroad.
Conversations between those individuals and Americans may also be intercepted, raising concerns about potential human rights abuses.
Ratcliffe managed and supervised the activities of over a dozen spy agencies in his capacity as director of national intelligence. The office oversees efforts to identify and thwart foreign attempts to sway US politics, among other responsibilities.
The Senate had to postpone Ratcliffe’s confirmation vote by two days due to concerns expressed by Democrats earlier in the week.
The woman who claimed sex abuse received $50,000 from Hegseth.
According to responses he gave throughout his confirmation process, Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Defense Secretary, paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.
As part of the screening process, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren asked Hegseth further questions, and she received the replies.
As the Senate moved Hegseth’s nomination along party lines, the payment was announced. A final vote on his confirmation is anticipated on Friday.
Hegseth has also been accused of heavy drinking and domestic abuse, which he denies, and Democrats, along with two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, expressed concerns about him.
The two Senate Armed Services Committee leaders were briefed by Trump’s transition team about an additional statement that Hegseth’s second wife, Samantha Hegseth, had given to the FBI two days after Hegseth was interrogated by senators during this confirmation hearing.
On Friday, Hegseth’s final confirmation vote is anticipated.
“The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr Hegseth’s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook,” Senator Murkowski stated.
