Donald Trump’s spy chief pick John Ratcliffe is attempt to ‘neutralise’ US intelligence agencies, ex-officials warn
- Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to leave next month after disagreements with US president
- Ratcliffe gained prominence for his outspoken defence of Trump in the face of the Mueller report
US President Donald Trump’s nomination of an inexperienced but loyal partisan to become the director of national intelligence (DNI) is an attempt to “neutralise” US spy agencies as an independent and objective voice on global affairs, former intelligence officials warned.
It follows the announcement that Dan Coats, one of the most senior national security officials willing to contradict Trump, is to leave the post next month after disagreements with him over policy and intelligence, including on Russian interference in the US election and on North Korean nuclear capabilities.
Trump has indicated that he might not wait for his nominee, Representative John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican, to receive Senate confirmation before wresting control over the office of the director of national intelligence, which coordinates the work of the other 16 intelligence agencies.
“The acting director will be named shortly,” Trump tweeted on Sunday, announcing the departure of Coats, and his choice of Ratcliffe, who has been a staunch defender of Trump in Congress.
However, the statute that established the role of DNI says that in case of a vacancy, the principal deputy director acts in the role until a replacement is confirmed. That would be Sue Gordon, a career official with three decades of experience in intelligence.