Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, expressed his disappointment with the Democrats on Tuesday after they blocked a confirmation vote for John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s choice for CIA director. Thune’s frustration came after Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, halted the vote despite Ratcliffe receiving overwhelming bipartisan support from the Senate Intelligence Committee, which approved him with a vote of 14 to 3.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune emphasized the importance of moving forward with confirming Trump’s nominees, stating, “Do we want a vote on these folks on Tuesday, or do we want to vote on them on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?” He stressed that this process should be straightforward, noting, “This is about America’s national security interests, and we need to stop stalling.”
Thune’s remarks highlight a growing tension in the Senate over the pace of confirmations. He pointed out that both sides of the aisle agree on Ratcliffe’s qualifications for the position, questioning the rationale behind delaying the process any further.
In response to the delay, Murphy noted that many Democrats are concerned about Ratcliffe’s capability to serve as CIA director, citing worries that he had politicized intelligence during his brief tenure as National Intelligence Director in 2020. Murphy argued that a robust debate is necessary before moving forward with the confirmation.
Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also criticized the delays, stating they serve “no good reason” and are merely an effort to prolong the nomination process. He called for a return to a more respectful and timely confirmation process for qualified candidates like Ratcliffe.
Currently, only one of President Trump’s cabinet nominees has been confirmed since the beginning of his administration, which was Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, approved by a unanimous Senate vote. Other nominees are still awaiting their confirmation hearings, leading to frustration among many Republicans who feel that the process is being obstructed.
