-
President Donald Trump has nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, (left) to replace Dan Coats as director of national intelligence.
By Miranda Oglesby | Mount Pleasant Tribune
President Donald Trump announced Sunday his nomination of U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, to replace Dan Coats as the director of national intelligence (DNI). Coats will officially step down on Aug. 15.
Ratcliffe was elected to the state’s 4th Congressional District in 2014 after successfully challenging the late Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall. The district stretches from the Dallas suburbs east to Texarkana, covering 18 North Texas and Northeast Texas counties, including Hopkins County.
“I am pleased to announce that highly-respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence. A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the [country] he loves,” the president said in a tweet.
According to www.dni.gov, the director of national intelligence “serves as the head of the Intelligence Community, overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program budget and serving as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.”
The DNI is a cabinet-level official that requires presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.
“I am deeply grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to lead our nation’s intelligence community and work on behalf of all the public servants who are tirelessly devoted to defending the security and safety of the United States,” Ratcliffe said in a statement. “President Trump’s call to serve in this role was not one I could ignore, and I am incredibly thankful to him for this great honor. I look forward to my new role with energy and focus.”
This isn’t the first time Ratcliffe has been said to be under consideration for a position in the Trump administration. In November, he was on a short list of possible replacements for fired U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He is also a member of the House Intelligence Committee.
If Ratcliffe passes Senate confirmation, a special election would take place to succeed him in Congress.
“It has been the privilege of my lifetime to be the voice for the people of the Fourth District of Texas over the past five years. I will take their wisdom and common sense with me in my new role, and I will always remember with pride my service to them and all that we have accomplished together,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe hosted the Northeast Texas Tax Cut Roadshow in April 2018, where he visited businesses in Texas’ 4th Congressional District that were positively impacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Roadshow included a stop at Cypress Bank in Pitts-burg, which gave out $50,000 in employee bonuses, increased 401(K) matching and invested in remodeling its facilities with savings from the legislation.
— The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.