(WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead America's premier spy agency and his second nominee to win Senate approval.

The confirmation came just after the first Republican senator came out publicly against the new president's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth.

A former federal prosecutor and Texas Republican, Ratcliffe gained prominence as a congressman as a staunch defender of Trump.

The Senate voted to confirm John Ratcliffe as the next CIA director approving the second high-level appointment for the Trump administration.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, faces a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday on advancing his nomination. The vote will occur after lawmakers consider the ...

"So that's the two senators that are out. Mitch McConnell is in as is all as are all the other senators in the conference." ...

He has offered a vision for a more aggressive spy agency, and his focus on the threat from China is widely shared by Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.

The final vote to ratify Ratcliffe as new CIA Director was 74-25; 21 Democrats voted along with every present Republican ...

Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to oppose Hegseth.

N.Y., said he supports Democrat efforts to slow down the confirmation of President Trump's Cabinet, including for key national security roles.