The U.S. Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe, former Director of National Intelligence (DNI), as the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 74-25 to approve Ratcliffe’s nomination. He had previously served as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence for the final eight months of his first term, according to Xinhua news agency.

Confirming the appointment, the White House posted on X, stating, “@JohnRatcliffe’s confirmation as Director of the CIA marks a significant step in advancing President Trump’s vision to restore America’s strength on the world stage.”

As DNI Director, Ratcliffe led a shift in the U.S. Intelligence Community’s focus, prioritizing efforts to gain a strategic advantage over China. He oversaw numerous operations aimed at removing designated terrorist leaders from the battlefield. Ratcliffe also made the historic decision to elevate space as a priority intelligence domain by adding the U.S. Space Force as the 18th member of the Intelligence Community. For his efforts, he received the National Security Medal, the highest honor for distinguished achievement in intelligence and national security, according to the White House.

Ratcliffe, a former Congressman from Texas’s 4th congressional district (2015-2020), was a key policymaker on national security issues, serving on the House Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Judiciary Committees.

Twenty-one Democrats joined Republicans in supporting Ratcliffe’s nomination, showing bipartisan backing in a divided political environment.

Thursday’s vote came just days after the Senate unanimously confirmed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida as Secretary of State, marking it the second major appointment of the new administration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has scheduled votes for more of Trump’s nominees, including Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has faced criticism over his lack of military leadership experience and allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and financial mismanagement within organizations he led.

Thune criticized Democrats for delaying Trump’s nominees, urging swift votes on the matter. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and a simple majority is needed for confirmation. Therefore, Republicans can afford to lose no more than two votes if all Democrats oppose a nomination.