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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As first reported today by the New York Times, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, is scheduled to step down August 15th, 2019. It has been long rumored in the D.C. circuit that Director Coats was expected to depart on his own terms, even though he stayed around a little longer than most administration officials had initially thought.
Both President Trump and Director Coats haven’t quite seen eye to eye on certain key issues like the handling of Russia, North Korea, or with President Trump’s questioning of the intelligence community.
In a tweet, President Trump thanked Director Coats by saying, “I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country”. In the same Twitter thread post, President Trump named Director Coats successor, Congressman John Ratcliffe, “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. A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves”.
….be leaving office on August 15th. I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country. The Acting Director will be named shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2019
Congressman Ratcliffe has been an ardent supporter of President Trump as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and was a favored pick by acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.
There has been no formal announcement of the time table set for the confirmation hearings for Congressman Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence.
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