Former intelligence director, congressman sworn in at CIA

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe took the oath of office on Thursday. The White House said on Friday that Ratcliffe’s appointment as CIA director would make the United States safer and more secure. Ratcliffe was grateful for the trust President Donald Trump had placed in him and said it was the privilege of a lifetime to serve the brave men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency. The oath of office was administered by Vice President J.D. Vance.

Who is Ratcliffe? He is the first U.S. official to serve as both CIA director and the Director of National Intelligence—a position he occupied during Trump’s first administration, the CIA said. He has also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the 25th director of the CIA.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report about what Trump’s recent executive decisions say about the upcoming four years.