Well, here we go again. Donald Trump’s return to the White House has everyone buzzing, and it’s not just political pundits. The intelligence community, especially the CIA, is bracing for a leadership overhaul. John Ratcliffe has been tapped for CIA director, and while his track record is impressive, the real question is whether he can navigate and reform an agency notorious for resisting change.
The CIA’s culture isn’t just bureaucratic—it’s practically impenetrable. Ratcliffe has shown he’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. As Director of National Intelligence, he took on misconduct tied to the Russia investigation and didn’t shy away from hard truths. But the director’s job isn’t a one-man show. Real change will depend on the team he builds around him.
History offers plenty of cautionary tales. Look at John McCone in the 1960s, who followed Allen Dulles as director. McCone’s tenure was marred by the fact that Dulles’ allies stayed in key positions, keeping McCone out of the loop on critical agency activities. More recently, John Brennan’s influence lingered even after he left, with his hand-picked deputy, Gina Haspel, rising to director and keeping his agenda alive.
The takeaway? A strong director isn’t enough. Without allies in key positions, even the boldest leader will struggle to bring about real reform. The deputy director, for instance, isn’t just an assistant; they’re essential to keeping the agency moving in the right direction. This person needs to focus on managing the agency downward—ensuring bureaucrats implement reforms instead of running their own agenda.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is another critical role. Often overlooked, the COO is the operational nerve center of the agency. They bridge the gap between leadership and staff, ensuring that directives from the top are carried out. Without a COO aligned with the director’s vision, the bureaucracy will keep chugging along on autopilot, and reform will remain a pipe dream.
Then there’s the Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA). Some might dismiss it as a PR job, but in reality, it’s a powerful tool. The OCA shapes how Congress views the CIA, and with the right person in charge, it can fend off bureaucrats trying to sabotage reforms through backchannels on Capitol Hill.
Public perception matters too. The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) plays a huge role in controlling the narrative about the agency. Leaks and media spin have undermined reformers before, as they did with Porter Goss, whose tenure ended abruptly thanks to internal resistance amplified by the media. Ratcliffe will need someone in OPA who can manage this minefield and keep the message focused.
And let’s not forget the legal team. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) has been a roadblock to accountability in the past, protecting bureaucratic interests and silencing whistleblowers. Reform here isn’t optional—it’s essential. A legal team that prioritizes transparency and supports whistleblowers instead of stifling them would go a long way toward building a culture of accountability.
The challenges are enormous. The CIA is a behemoth that doesn’t take kindly to change, and the entrenched bureaucracy is skilled at undermining directors who threaten the status quo. Porter Goss learned this the hard way, facing leaks and resistance that cut his tenure short. Ratcliffe needs to be ready for the same level of pushback and then some.
But this isn’t just about surviving as director. It’s about fixing an agency that has strayed too far from its mission. The CIA’s primary job is safeguarding national security, not playing politics or protecting its own interests. A reformed agency could achieve that mission with integrity, transparency, and accountability—three qualities that have been sorely lacking.
Ratcliffe has a tough road ahead, but the opportunity is there. With the right team and a clear vision, he can break through the bureaucratic inertia and turn the CIA into an agency that serves the country, not itself. It won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
Good luck, Mr. Ratcliffe. If you’re ready for the fight, you just might succeed where others have failed. This isn’t just about reforming the CIA—it’s about showing the entire intelligence community what real leadership looks like.
