The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead America's premier spy agency and his second nominee to win Senate approval.

The new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) becomes the second Cabinet member of US President Donald Trump's administration. View on euronews

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation’s premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

CIA nominee John Ratcliffe is telling senators about how he’ll reshape the intelligence community in what he calls "the most challenging national security environment in our nation’s history."

John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, told members of the Senate that loyalty to Trump would not conflict with duties to follow intelligence leads.

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

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, on Wednesday vowed not to fire or force out employees for their political views or their opinions about the incoming U.S. leader,

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national ... as America’s greatest geopolitical rival, with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations ...

John Ratcliffe, the former director of national ... to the activities of the Chinese Communist Party." Russia, Iran, North Korea, drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations were ...

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national ... as America's greatest geopolitical rival, with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also ...

Video above: John Ratcliffe says 'we face what may be the ... with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also posing challenges to national security.

The Senate approved Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence (DNI) during Trump's first term, in a 74-25 vote, according to reports. In November, Trump tapped him to lead the CIA, portraying him as a "warrior for truth and honesty."