Director Of National Intelligence Dan Coats Will Leave Office Next Month

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats will leave his role next month, paving the way for President Donald Trump to appoint loyalist John Ratcliffe to the key national security position. The change is widely seen as tightening Trump’s grip on the federal government.

Coats and Trump have disagreed on major national security issues, including Russia and North Korea. The President has frequently contradicted Coats’ assessments, reportedly making it more difficult for Coats to fulfil his duties. Trump has repeatedly denied the intelligence community’s findings.

Coats’ replacement, Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe, has defended the President in Congress and is widely seen as loyal pro-Trump Republican who will toe the line and allow Trump to have even greater control over key federal agencies.

The Director of National Intelligence overseas all 17 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the NSA. Controlling that position is important of Trump plans to continue his current tactic of misleading the public on the nature of Russian interference in US elections.

Ratcliffe has been compared to Attorney General William Barr. Barr has been accused of mishandling his office by his stalwart defense of Trump and his apparent attempt to undermine Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s findings through a public statement.