WASHINGTON — A former Texas congressman is in line to become the nation’s next chief of the Central Intelligence Agency. It would be John Ratcliffe’s second stint in a Trump administration after previously serving as the president-elect's director of national intelligence.

What You Need To Know

  • Former Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe is set to become the next CIA director, marking his second role in a Trump administration after serving as director of national intelligence

  • Ratcliffe got in Trump’s good graces after he criticized former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and defended Trump during his first impeachment proceeding
  • The CIA director oversees the agency’s intelligence collection, counterintelligence, analysis of foreign threats and covert operations
  • If Ratcliffe is confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first person who has served as both director of national intelligence and of the CIA

Although some of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees have drawn sharp objections, others are enjoying praise. Ratcliffe is in the latter category.

“Great pick. He’s a dear friend of mine on top of that, but I think he’s a great pick. I think President Trump’s made some great picks,” Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, said. 

Ratcliff served in the 4th Congressional District in North Texas from 2015 until 2020, when he stepped down to serve as director of national intelligence during the final months of Trump’s first term.

A former federal prosecutor in Texas, Ratcliffe served on the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees. He got in Trump’s good graces after he criticized former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and defended Trump during his first impeachment proceeding.

Trump said in a statement, “He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

Other Texas Republicans in Congress agree.

“He’ll do a good job over the CIA. I think he has the right balance of the need to make sure we’ve got a strong intelligence operation, but also an intelligence operation that is focused on overseas and protecting the country, not engaging in, I think, activities that are targeting American citizens and some of the abuses and concerns that I think people have had,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, said.

The CIA director oversees the agency’s intelligence collection, counterintelligence, analysis of foreign threats and covert operations. Although he’s a close Trump ally, Ratcliffe is seen as a traditional pick for the CIA role and is unlikely to face much resistance in the incoming GOP-controlled Senate. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. 

“I’m proud that my fellow Texan and former colleague in Congress, John Ratcliffe, has been selected to direct the Central Intelligence Agency. I’m looking forward to working with these terrific individuals,” Cornyn said on the Senate floor. 

If Ratcliffe is confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first person who has served as both director of national intelligence and of the CIA.