Upcoming changes at CIA shine a spotlight on the spy agency’s director John Ratcliffe

As one of the last federal agencies to face major changes in President Trump’s norm-bending second term, the CIA is bracing for significant cuts and a reorganization that seeks to elevate covert operations by hiring more officers to go in the field and fewer analysts to sit behind computer screens.

As one of the last federal agencies to face major changes in President Donald Trump’s norm-bending second term, the CIA is bracing for significant cuts and a reorganization that seeks to elevate covert operations by hiring more officers to go in the field and fewer analysts to sit behind computer screens. The coming changes have sharpened the focus on CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who so far has walked a fine line between maintaining favor with the White House and building trust with career rank-and-file officers at the storied spy agency that Trump views as a key part of the so-called “Deep State.” Up to now, Ratcliffe appears to have insulated the CIA from the kind of political meddling by the White House that many career officials have feared would come with a second Trump administration. Ratcliffe and his deputy Michael Ellis “may have come to the conclusion that these people are professionals, there really is no deep state out here,” said one former senior intelligence official. “But now you are pushing against the White House that believes there is.” Several intelligence officials said Ratcliffe seems to spend most of his time across the river at the White House – leaving some in the workforce with the impression he is very “hands-off,” one US official said. Others said it’s not clear to the rank-and-file who is really running the agency, with another former official describing the CIA as “rudderless” – deepening concerns among some career professionals that the uncertainty will lead to a brain drain as talented officers retire or take Trump’s buyout offer. Overall, the sentiment toward Ratcliffe among career officials within CIA headquarters at Langley is lukewarm, multiple current and former US officials told CNN, with one official describing him as “the least bad option” to serve as Trump’s CIA director.