July 29 (UPI) — President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, to replace the outgoing Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
Trump wrote on Twitter that Coats will step down on Aug. 15 and an acting director for the agency will be “named shortly” as Ratcliffe awaits confirmation.
“I am pleased to announce that highly respected congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the director of national intelligence,” Trump wrote. “A former U.S. attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the country he loves.”
Coats has served as director of national intelligence since 2017 after the Senate approved his nomination by a vote of 85-12.
The position of director of national intelligence was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks as a means of fostering inter-agency dialogue and cooperation between the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence-gathering network.
Ratcliffe, 53, has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas’ 4th district since 2015 and serves on the House Intelligence Committee.
He previously worked as a U.S. attorney and federal terrorism prosecutor and as Mayor of the city of Heath, Texas.
