William Burns, Joe Biden’s pick for CIA leadership, faces Senate for approval

William Burns, who is US President Joe Biden’s pick to occupy the position of the Director of Central Intelligence Agency is testifying for the Senate Intelligence Committee in his final lap of being confirmed for the integral position, according to US media reports. 

Burns, who is known to have a diverse range of skillsets and experience in public service after working under five US Presidents including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, outlined his way of working in his opening statements at the hearing by stressing that intelligence shall be free of any political ambitions and motives, which showed a clear diversion from the approach of former US President Donald Trump’s pick for the position. 

Also Read: Merrick Garland answers sensitive questions in his Senate confirmation hearing

He said while citing personal experiences, “I learned that good intelligence, delivered with honesty and integrity, is America’s first line of defense. I learned that intelligence professionals have to tell policymakers what they need to hear, even if they don’t want to hear it.”

He added, “He said he wants the agency to give it to him straight — and I pledged to do just that, and to defend those who do the same”, reported CNN. 

Burns, who served as the Deputy Secretary of State in the Obama administration and is a highly celebrated American diplomat, has been critical of the policies followed by Trump and the implications it had on the American foreign policy. 

Also Read: GOP Senators Ron Johnson and Josh Hawley criticised for their statements at the Senate hearing

The 63-year-old has been on a consistent uphill climb since the start of his career in public service in 1982 as a diplomat, went on to serve under 10 different secretaries in a variety of administrations and currently holds the reigns of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an American think tank focused on researching international affairs and global political order.