President Donald Trump made headlines in November when he asked former Director of National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA.

That request will be honored, as this week the Senate voted in favor of Ratcliffe's confirmation as CIA director. 

Chuck Schumer voted to oppose Ratcliffe's confirmation

According to NBC News, Ratcliffe was confirmed on Thursday by a vote of 74 to 25. While the nominee was supported by all Republican senators, 21 Democrats also voted to confirm him.

Among those voicing opposition was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who claimed that he was not motivated by "political difference."

Instead, Schumer expressed doubt that Ratcliffe "will be unable to stand up to people like Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, who are known to falsify intelligence."

"As CIA director, Mr. Ratcliffe will have to make decisions based on intelligence and fact," the New York Democrat declared.

Ratcliffe denies that he will pursue a political agenda at the CIA

NBC News noted how during his confirmation hearing, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner raised the prospect that Ratcliffe would pursue a political agenda.

Specifically, Warner asked for an assurance that Ratcliffe would "resist efforts to fire or force out career CIA employees because of their perceived political views and that you will not ask these employees to place loyalty to a political figure above loyalty to country."

Ratcliffe responded to Warner's question by pointing to the time that he spent serving as DNI during Trump's first term in office.

"If you look at my record and my record as DNI, that never took place. That is never something anyone alleged. It’s something that I would never do," NBC News quoted Ratcliffe as saying.

Ratcliffe also said in response to a written question that he found CIA employees "to be skilled professionals who were driven by mission—not by political or ideological bias."

Senate advances Pete Hegseth to final confirmation vote

Ratcliffe's confirmation came the same day that senators voted to advance Trump's nominee for secretary of Defense for a final confirmation vote.

The Hill reported that the Senate voted 51-49 in favor of advancing Pete Hegseth, with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joining with Democrats to oppose him.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman called Hegseth a "good choice" to head the Department of Defense, adding that he is "open to new ideas" and is "not beholden to the status quo."