Trump Loyalist Confirmed as Director of National Intelligence 

One of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters is set to lead the country’s intelligence community, overcoming concerns about his experience and a bitter partisan divide to win Senate confirmation. The Senate voted 49 to 44, along party lines, Thursday to confirm Texas Representative John Ratcliffe as the next director of national intelligence and the U.S. intelligence community’s first permanent leader since former Director Dan Coats stepped down last August. During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Ratcliffe promised that he would deliver the president and top policymakers the FILE – In this April 21, 2020, file photo Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.Ratcliffe “will lead the intelligence community in countering threats from great powers, rogue nations and terrorists, and ensuring that work is untainted by political bias,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Ratcliffe will have tremendous power to do good and to be transparent,” added Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. But Senate Democrats criticized Ratcliffe, expressing reservations that the Texas lawmaker would be able to set aside his partisan rhetoric. “It requires someone with unimpeachable integrity, deep experience, and the independence and the backbone to speak truth to power,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Unfortunately, Mr. Ratcliffe doesn’t even come close to meeting that high bar.” Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) talks to reporters on April 21, 2020, in Washington.One of the Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, talks to reporters in Washington, March 19, 2019.”The intelligence community is a creation of Congress. Congress is not a creation of the intelligence community,” Grassley said in remarks praising Ratcliffe’s nomination before Thursday’s vote. “The intelligence community answers to us.” Grassley also praised the current acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, saying Ratcliffe “has some big shoes to fill.” The current U.S. ambassador to Germany, Grenell has stoked the ire of both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, and of Democrats in the House, for pushing ahead with a series of reforms without consulting them, while failing to give proper notification. JUST IN: Senate Intelligence Committee official tells @VOANews that @ODNIgov Acting Dir @RichardGrenell failed to comply w/request from Republican Chair @SenatorBurr & Democratic Vice Chair @MarkWarner “consult with the Committee before making any further organizational changes” https://t.co/xpQQyBhu2T— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) May 8, 2020 Those changes, some made despite concerns by both current and former intelligence officials, include reforms to how the intelligence community will brief on election interference and move to streamline operations at the National Counterterrorism Center. Grenell on Thursday congratulated Ratcliffe on Twitter, saying Ratcliffe “will be the best DNI ever!” Congratulations, @RepRatcliffe! You will be the best DNI ever! #USAhttps://t.co/2iVS80aAMB— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 21, 2020Ratcliffe’s nomination also polarized former intelligence officials, some of whom have taken their concerns public. Clapper told VOA earlier this month that Ratcliffe’s relationship with the intelligence agencies going forward bears watching. “We’ll have to see how he performs,” Clapper said. “If he behaves as strictly a Trump loyalist, there will be a lot of blowback from the ranks.” 
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