The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate confirmed former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as the next director of the CIA on Thursday.

Former Congressman John Ratcliffe is the nation's new CIA director after the Senate voted 74-25 in favor of his confirmation on Thursday.

The Senate advanced John Ratcliffe’s nomination for Central Intelligence Agency director in a key test vote, effectively guaranteeing he will be confirmed in a final vote later Thursday.

Chris Murphy, D-Conn., disrupted Senate Republicans ... having a consent agreement to have a vote on the confirmation of John Ratcliffe to be the CIA director tomorrow. Not today, not yesterday ...

Chris Murphy, D-Conn., forced the Senate's Republican ... The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune ... director in John Ratcliffe, who has bipartisan support, was blocked. Speaking on the Senate floor after the vote was blocked by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,

"John Ratcliffe is undeniably qualified for the job, he's going to lead the CIA without bias, and with the safety of the American people being his priority." On Tuesday, Sen. Chris Murphy ...

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

FILE - Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe waits to board Marine One with President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick ...

With votes expected late evening, the Republican-led Senate is determined to install Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, and round out President Donald Trump's top national security Cabinet officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe won confirmation within days of Trump's return to the White House.

The US Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet. Mr Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Mr Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA, the nation’s premier spy agency.