Ratcliffe edges closer to CIA confirmation with Democratic support: 5 takeaways

John Ratcliffe emerged largely unscathed from a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee that appeared to pave the way for him to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Ratcliffe experienced a rough-and-tumble confirmation process to become the director of national intelligence (DNI) in 2020. But this go-around was much more cordial and bipartisan, with Democrats directing their ire at President-elect Trump’s more controversial nominees.

Wednesday’s hearing was wide-ranging and included back-and-forth exchanges with members on a number of topics, including intelligence gathering, threats the U.S. faces on a global scale and some of Ratcliffe’s actions as national intelligence director at the end of Trump’s first term. 

But, all in all, Ratcliffe appears to be in as good of a spot as any of Trump’s nominees. 

Here are five takeaways from his hearing.

Ratcliffe pledges to keep the CIA apolitical 

Ratcliffe at multiple points in the hearing tried to calm Democratic concerns that the agency could become a political pawn on Trump’s chessboard, an effort that is seemingly working as Ratcliffe pushes not just for a confirmation, but one with bipartisan support. 

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the committee’s vice chair, aired those worries during opening remarks and by asking Ratcliffe if he would resist efforts to force out or fire any CIA employees on the basis of political leanings.

The CIA nominee attempted to quell such concerns immediately, pointing to his tenure as national intelligence director and vowing that the CIA will maintain its apolitical nature. 

“If you look at my record as DNI, that never took place. That’s never something that anyone has alleged, and it’s something that I would never do,” Ratcliffe said. “I would approach this position very much the same way and provide the same assurance.”

Ratcliffe also answered a series of questions from Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) related to the CIA’s independence and keeping political leanings out of intelligence gathering, answers that appeared to be welcomed by the Maine senator.

“I enjoyed more my time as DNI and opportunity to be apolitical,” Ratcliffe said later on in the hearing. “It's absolutely essential that the CIA leader be apolitical.” 

China reemerges as key issue for Ratcliffe 

Ratcliffe has long been a proponent of combating China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party, and the world power was a consistent topic throughout the hearing.

During Ratcliffe’s tenure as national intelligence director, he warned that China posed the greatest threat to the U.S. of any nation since World War II — a stance he has doubled down on during his confirmation stretch. He has advocated for aggressive spying on the Asian power.

“Understand that the nation who wins the race of emerging technologies of today will dominate the world of tomorrow,” Ratcliffe said during his opening statement. “Which brings me to the need for the CIA to continue and increase an intensity to focus on the threats posed by China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party. As DNI, I dramatically increased the intelligence community’s resources devoted to China.” 

“I openly warned the American people that from my unique vantage point as an official who saw more intelligence than anyone else, I assessed that China was far and away our top national security threat,” Ratcliffe said, noting his feeling is shared increasingly by those on both sides of the aisle.

The former Texas congressman also labeled the country as a “our once-in-a-generation challenge,” adding that “the intelligence is clear."

Democratic lawmakers have warmed to his thinking and posture on the situation since 2020. 

Ratcliffe could be confirmed with bipartisan support — and fast 

Of all the potentials and maybes involved in the confirmation process, one thing is fairly certain: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Trump's secretary of State nominee, will be the first of the president-elect's Cabinet officials to win Senate approval shortly after Inauguration Day.

The picture remains murky on who else could win confirmation in the first days of the Trump administration, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that Ratcliffe could be among that crowd.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told the panel before adjourning Ratcliffe’s hearing that he is planning on holding a committee vote on his nomination on Monday afternoon following the inauguration. 

Democrats are warming to his nomination despite Ratcliffe winning confirmation as national intelligence director in 2020 in a party-line vote. 

Warner told The Hill after the closed-door portion of Ratcliffe’s hearing that he is looking “favorably” upon his nomination but stopped short of saying he’ll vote for him.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), however, said that Ratcliffe has his support.

“I think he’s qualified for the job. He’s a serious guy and he’s got the background,” Kelly said, adding that he was appreciative of Ratcliffe’s answers on speaking truth to power. “I’ve got confidence he’ll do a good job.”

Warrantless surveillance powers play key role 

Ratcliffe offered up a strong defense of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for the warrantless surveillance of foreign targets, calling it an important tool to keep the U.S. safe at a critical time. 

When asked by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) about the tool, Ratcliffe noted that he used 702 powers during his time as a prosecutor and indicated that his backing of it has only grown. He said that he supports its reauthorization.

“It's critical, it's indispensable, and for critics of it, no one has offered a replacement,” Ratcliffe said.

He also acknowledged to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) that the program could be abused, saying that while he remains an ardent supporter of it, some guardrails are needed.

“But [the authority is] one that can be abused and that we must do everything we can to make sure that it has the appropriate safeguards, because it can’t come at the sacrifice of Americans' civil liberties,” he said. “I have supported those reforms and called out those abuses when they have taken place.” 

Another Trump nominee, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), has been forced to backtrack on her opposition to Section 702 in order to potentially win confirmation to lead the U.S. national intelligence apparatus. 

A pledge to investigate Havana syndrome  

Ratcliffe told senators that he plans to “drill down” on the causes of “Havana syndrome” and anomalous health incidents (AHIs) amid reports that two U.S. intelligence agencies opened the door to the possibility these incidents were caused by a foreign adversary. The intelligence community at large has found no such links.

The former director of national intelligence lamented to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that little headway has been made to determine who or what is responsible for a series of mystery health ailments that have affected hundreds of U.S. spies, diplomats and other personnel. 

“I share your frustration that four years later we’re very much in the same place in terms of trying to make an assessment and determination on the cause of this,” he said. “I share your frustration in not being able to understand why, but if confirmed and have the opportunity to be briefed on all of the assessments and intelligence, my pledge to you is that I will drill down and look carefully at that issue and work with you to see.”

Ratcliffe noted that beyond the specific health issues, the CIA and intelligence community’s workforce morale has been affected by the ongoing reports surrounding AHIs. 

In early December, the House Intelligence Committee’s subcommittee on the CIA issued a report saying that there is an increasing likelihood that a foreign adversary was responsible for some of the AHI cases. 

Rubio, the nominee to lead the State Department, has also been a leading proponent of determining the causes of AHIs.