Senate Confirms Biden's Intelligence Director
The Senate on Jan. 20 voted 84-10 to confirm Avril Haines to be director of national intelligence. Haines, President Joe Biden’s first confirmed Cabinet nominee, told the Senate earlier this week that China is a “challenge” to U.S. national security and said she would work to counter unfair and illegal Chinese trade measures (see 2101190060). She also said the Biden administration will work more closely with allies as it considers whether to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Iran nuclear program agreement.
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Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted that evening that it was important to quickly “clear objections” and confirm Haines. “Our enemies aren’t going to wait around for a new administration to staff critical positions,” Rubio said. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the committee, said he is “confident Avril Haines will serve honorably.”