WASHINGTON — Former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, vowed to make the agency more muscular while keeping its work apolitical during his nomination hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.

FILE - Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe waits to board Marine One with President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick ...

No president has ever exercised this constitutional power, but "this remains a significant possibility in the eyes of the White House," one source said.

Texans have been tapped to run the CIA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture.

The United States Senate has confirmed the appointment of John Ratcliffe as the next Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the only two Republicans who voted against Donald Trump’s choice to head the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, in a procedural vote Thursday, citing concerns with his ability to lead the U.S. military.

During his confirmation hearing on January 15, Ratcliffe emphasized his commitment to merit-based hiring and promotion within the CIA, distancing himself from political influences

The new assessment came after John Ratcliffe was confirmed Thursday as the CIA director under the second White House administration of Donald Trump.

John Ratcliffe will lead the Central Intelligence Agency under ... and he could face pressure from the White House to wield intelligence against the president’s opponents. His hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee in January was far less ...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate confirmed former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as the next director of the CIA on Thursday.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.