Op-Ed: Rep. Stephanie Bice: As CIA Director, John Ratcliffe will ensure our nation is safe

It is imperative that the Senate quickly confirm President Trump’s cabinet, especially the individuals who oversee the safety and security of our country, Rep. Stephanie Bice writes in an op-ed.

Over the course of the Biden administration, numerous government agencies were weaponized or forced to uphold policies that are at odds with their core responsibilities. John Ratcliffe, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) would quickly reorient the agency back to its mission focus, protecting our country. It is imperative that the Senate quickly confirm President Trump’s cabinet, especially the individuals who oversee the safety and security of our country.

The last four years have been filled with domestic and national security failures, and sadly, the world has become increasingly unsafe. President Joe Biden oversaw the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members. Europe is facing the largest ground invasion since World War II, and Israel is threatened on all sides by adversaries seeking to destroy it.

Even terrorists are emboldened. Just last year, Al-Qaeda issued its most specific call to attack the United States in the last five years, and ISIS has urged its followers to target Jewish communities.

However, it’s not just overseas. This past year in Oklahoma City, the safety of my district and our democratic process were at risk. In October, an individual from Afghanistan, who was radicalized by ISIS, was arrested for conspiring to conduct an Election Day terrorist attack.

This attempted attack, within America’s heartland, was not an isolated incident of hatred and terror seeping into our nation. On New Year’s Day, just a few hours into 2025, our nation was hit with a brutal terrorist attack in New Orleans. This time, the individual’s attack was not foiled, and dozens lost their lives. As we pray for the healing of all the victims and their families who have had to live through this, we must seek to prevent another attack from unfolding.

While I did not serve with John in the House, I have always respected and admired his work not only on the Homeland Security Committee, but also on the Judiciary and House Intelligence Committees. Ratcliffe, as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), helped counter and eliminate national security threats across the globe. In addition to working to combat radical terrorism, John accurately identified and took steps to counter one of America’s greatest threats, China.

It is no secret that China, utilizing its Belt and Road initiative, is attempting to expand its influence throughout the world, including in our backyard in South America. However, it goes further than that. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to engage in acts of espionage including the hacking of critical telecommunications infrastructure at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, AT&T, Verizon, and others. America must stand firm against these attacks and send a message to China that this will not continue.

Put simply, the CCP is not only supporting repression within its own borders but are also seeking to counter freedom across the globe. A strong message needs to be sent to China and to the growing terrorist organizations that threaten our country’s safety.

It is imperative that the Senate quickly act to confirm Ratcliffe’s nomination to do this. In an increasingly unsafe world, we must have the ability to respond to threats both at home and abroad.

Rep. Stephanie Bice represents Oklahoma’s 5th District in Congress.