4 Takeaways From Ratcliffe’s CIA Confirmation Hearing

Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA said he would restore meritocracy, counter China, and invest in offensive cyber, while defending warrantless wiretaps.
4 Takeaways From Ratcliffe’s CIA Confirmation Hearing
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be CIA director on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15, 2025. Jemal Countess/AFP via Getty Images
Andrew Thornebrooke
Andrew Thornebrooke
National Security Correspondent
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John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for CIA director, told senators Wednesday that he would prioritize meritocracy in the agency, bring the cyber fight to China, and maintain robust intelligence gathering capabilities that have at times been weaponized against Americans.

Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during the first Trump administration and previously served as a U.S. House representative for Texas, delivered the remarks to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during a Jan. 15 hearing to vet his nomination to lead the CIA.

Andrew Thornebrooke
Andrew Thornebrooke
National Security Correspondent
Andrew Thornebrooke is a national security correspondent for The Epoch Times covering China-related issues with a focus on defense, military affairs, and national security. He holds a master's in military history from Norwich University.
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