Encyclopedia · Biography
John Ratcliffe
Former Texas congressman and U.S. director of the CIA
Personal details
- Full name
- John Lee Ratcliffe
- Born
- October 20, 1965
- Education
- University of Notre Dame; Southern Methodist University School of Law
- Prior offices
- Mayor of Heath, Texas; U.S. representative (2015–2020); director of national intelligence (2020–2021)
- Office
- Director of Central Intelligence Agency (since January 23, 2025)
John Ratcliffe is an American lawyer and public official who led the intelligence community as director of national intelligence during the first Trump administration and became director of the CIA during the second.
Legal and local-government career
Ratcliffe practiced law and served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas in 2007–2008. He also served as mayor of Heath, Texas and was a founding partner of the law firm Ashcroft Sutton Ratcliffe with former attorney general John Ashcroft.
Congress and first intelligence appointment
Ratcliffe represented Texas’s 4th congressional district from 2015 until May 2020, serving on Judiciary, Homeland Security and Intelligence committees. He became director of national intelligence in May 2020 and held the office until January 2021.
CIA directorship and lines of authority
Trump nominated Ratcliffe for CIA director; the Senate confirmed and he was sworn in January 23, 2025. The CIA director heads the agency and reports to the Director of National Intelligence, held by Jay Clayton since August 2026. This reporting structure documents institutional connection; shared service under Trump does not establish coordination in any particular operation.
References
Research compiled November 13, 2026. Open questions belong in a separate research note, not in the public text.
Where this subject appears in The Story
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Documented connections
These are specifically described relationships in public records. A shared institution, appointment or event does not by itself demonstrate coordination or wrongdoing.
- Donald Trump (person) — appointments: Appointed DNI during first term and CIA Director during second term · 2020–2021; 2025 onward
- Jay Clayton (person) — statutory intelligence reporting: CIA Director Ratcliffe reports to DNI Clayton by statute, from Clayton assumption of office · August 2026 onward