John Ratcliffe Is Expected to Lay Out a Vision for a More Aggressive C.I.A.
The New York Times
Donald Trump’s pick for the agency’s director seems likely to win some Democratic support for this nomination, but how much is unclear.
John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for C.I.A. director, is set to offer his vision for a more aggressive spy agency as he fields questions from senators on Wednesday about his intelligence priorities and ability to deliver unvarnished assessments.
Mr. Ratcliffe’s confirmation is all but assured, and he is likely to be voted on by the full Senate soon after Mr. Trump’s inauguration on Monday. During the first Trump administration, the Senate confirmed Mr. Ratcliffe, 49 to 44, to serve as director of national intelligence. He was the first national intelligence chief installed without support from the opposition party.
But now, senators from both parties view Mr. Ratcliffe as one of the more qualified senior officials picked by Mr. Trump, whose focus on the threat from China is widely shared by lawmakers of both parties.
Mr. Ratcliffe is expected to outline his vision of the agency that offers intelligence free of political bias. But he is also expected to talk about ways to make the C.I.A. less risk-averse and more willing to conduct covert action when ordered by the president.
Mr. Ratcliffe seems likely to win some Democratic support for this nomination, but how much is unclear. The Democratic minority is expected to ask Mr. Ratcliffe about Mr. Trump’s attacks on the intelligence community and Mr. Ratcliffe’s ability to deliver intelligence that might be at odds with Mr. Trump’s worldview.
Throughout his first term in office, Mr. Trump attacked the intelligence agencies and their leaders. He has often referred darkly to “the deep state,” a group of national security officials opposed to his agenda. And he and his aides have discussed pushing out government officials whom they view as disloyal to the White House.
