In a striking shift for U.S. intelligence, CIA Director John Ratcliffe has emerged as a pivotal figure in President Donald Trump’s administration during his first year back in office.
Ratcliffe, often described as a key operative for Trump, has overseen major operations, including the capture of Venezuela’s ousted leader, Nicolas Maduro, and U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He has also initiated internal reforms at the CIA, such as dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, while pushing for transparency through declassified documents. Additionally, Ratcliffe has focused on rebuilding CIA assets and enhancing cooperation with agencies like the FBI.
Supporters contend that Ratcliffe’s leadership marks a refreshing return to mission-driven intelligence work, free from the politicization they believe plagued the agency under past administrations. His efforts to streamline operations and prioritize national security over progressive agendas are seen as a much-needed course correction. Let’s unpack how this transformation is unfolding.
According to Breitbart, one of Ratcliffe’s earliest high-profile actions was a visit to Venezuela, just days after U.S. forces captured Maduro in a daring mission dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve. As the first cabinet-level official to visit since the operation, Ratcliffe met with acting President Delcy Rodriguez to navigate the aftermath. This move signaled a strong American presence in the region.
Many see this as evidence of a reinvigorated CIA, willing to take decisive steps to protect U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. The operation’s success is touted as proof that Trump’s vision for assertive foreign policy is bearing fruit. It’s a stark contrast to the hesitancy critics attribute to prior leadership.
Equally significant is Ratcliffe’s role in Operation Midnight Hammer, where U.S. airstrikes reportedly dismantled Iran’s nuclear program in a single night. CIA technical expertise was instrumental in planning and assessing the strike’s impact, leaving Iran’s capabilities severely hampered, at least temporarily. This operation underscores a renewed boldness in tackling global threats.
Back at Langley, Ratcliffe has dismantled all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, arguing for a return to what he calls a merit-based culture. Critics of such programs applaud this as a rejection of distracting social policies in favor of pure operational focus. They argue national security shouldn’t bend to ideological trends.
On transparency, Ratcliffe has declassified thousands of documents, including those tied to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as intelligence related to past political controversies. Supporters view this as a long-overdue reckoning with the agency’s secretive past. It’s a gamble that could rebuild public trust—or open old wounds. “Under Director John Ratcliffe, CIA is back to focusing on mission and is executing on President Trump’s national security priorities,” said CIA Director of Public Affairs Liz Lyons. Her words reflect a sentiment that the agency is shedding bureaucratic baggage for a leaner, more aggressive posture.
Ratcliffe keeps a classified chart on his desk tracking CIA asset numbers, a visual reminder of the agency’s decline under previous administrations and its slow recovery now. He’s reportedly relentless about recruiting spies and stealing adversaries’ secrets to bolster Trump’s decision-making. This obsession with results is resonating with those who felt the CIA had lost its edge.
A key focus is countering China, with the CIA releasing Mandarin-language videos to recruit sources within and beyond the Chinese government. Agency insiders call the effort hugely successful, yielding valuable intelligence. It’s a clever, if unconventional, play in a high-stakes geopolitical chess game.
“It sent an early message that President Trump was shifting the paradigm all over the world,” Ratcliffe said of the capture of Mohammad Sharifullah, alias Jafar, tied to the tragic Abbey Gate bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal. He views such operations as restoring American credibility after what he calls a national embarrassment under prior leadership.
Ratcliffe, alongside Deputy Director Michael Ellis, has merged offices into the Americas and Counternarcotics Mission Center and launched a Cyber Intelligence Mission Center to tackle modern threats. These structural changes aim to make the CIA nimbler in a tech-driven world. Exploring artificial intelligence in intelligence work is another frontier they’re navigating.
Closer ties with the FBI, historically a tense relationship, are also part of Ratcliffe’s vision, thanks to his rapport with Director Kash Patel. This collaboration is already credited with operational wins. It’s a practical step that could redefine inter-agency dynamics for years.
Ultimately, Ratcliffe’s tenure is shaping up as a defining chapter for the CIA, aligning it with a no-nonsense, America-first approach. While detractors may balk at the pace of change or ideological shifts, the results—captures, strikes, and reforms—speak loudly. For now, the “quiet hammer” seems to be striking all the right targets.