Split Senate confirms Ratcliffe as national intelligence chief

WASHINGTON — A sharply divided Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence Thursday, with Democrats refusing to support the nomination over fears that he will politicize the intelligence community’s work under President Donald Trump.

All Democrats opposed Ratcliffe, making him the first director of national intelligence to be installed on a partisan vote since the position was created in 2005. The tally was 49-44.

Ratcliffe will take over the agency at a tumultuous time. The nation faces threats from Iran and North Korea, Russian disinformation campaigns to interfere in the U.S. elections and tensions with China over rising competition and the spread of the coronavirus. At the same time, Trump has viewed the intelligence agencies with distrust and ousted or fired multiple officials.