The Senate Intelligence Committee swiftly approved John Ratcliffe to head the Central Intelligence Agency, shortly after President Trump was sworn in for a second term Monday. Why it matters: A Trump loyalist,

The former Texas congressman previously led the nation's spy agencies as director of national intelligence in the last months of the first Trump administration.

Republicans and Democrats praised the former lawmaker and intelligence official, who vowed not to use political loyalty tests at the CIA.

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, is Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA on his vision for America’s premier spy agency He is a former

Ratcliffe, a former director of national intelligence during Trump’s first administration, is expected to be confirmed to run the Central Intelligence Agency.

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

John Ratcliffe, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), testifies before a Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,

The Senate Intelligence Committee Monday advanced, 14-3, the nomination of John Ratcliffe, President Trump's pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, with the backing of four Democrats and Sen. Angus King,

John Ratcliffe took a step closer to being confirmed to lead the CIA on Monday as the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced his nomination. The panel advanced his nomination 14 to 3 shortly after President Trump was sworn into office.