Senate Intelligence panel sets hearing for Biden CIA pick

The Senate Intelligence Committee will review William Burns, President Biden’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), on Wednesday.

Burns, a former career diplomat and ambassador, capped his more than three decades of experience in the Foreign Service by serving as the deputy secretary of State. 

He currently serves as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace but has served in various national security roles across both Democratic and Republican administrations. 

“Bill Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage keeping our people and our country safe and secure,” Biden said in a statement when he first nominated Burns to the position in January. 

“He shares my profound belief that intelligence must be apolitical and that the dedicated intelligence professionals serving our nation deserve our gratitude and respect. Ambassador Burns will bring the knowledge, judgment, and perspective we need to prevent and confront threats before they can reach our shores,” he added. 

A former ambassador to both Jordan and Russia, Burns would take the helm of the intelligence unit responsible for gathering, analyzing and disseminating foreign intelligence to support U.S. policy efforts.

There are signs Burns may be able to garner bipartisan support for his confirmation.

“He is a well-known, seasoned diplomat and respected figure in the intelligence community. Like outgoing Director Haspell, Burns will be a steady hand at the helm of the CIA. I look forward to supporting his nomination,” Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted when he was first nominated.