Exclusive | CIA Director Ratcliffe urged focus on China before Trump trade war took off: Top of our list

WASHINGTON — CIA Director John Ratcliffe emphasized the looming military, technological and economic threats from China in an internal memo to employees two days before President Trump’s trade war against Beijing took off, while also announcing a streamlined workforce in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), The Post can reveal.Ratcliffe, who vowed to target China as a “top national security threat” in his confirmation hearings, wrote that his and President Trump’s “near-term priorities for CIA” put Beijing “at the very top of that list,” according to the March 31 document.“No adversary in the history of our Nation has presented a more formidable challenge or a more capable strategic competitor than the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” he wrote.“It is intent on dominating the world economically, militarily, and technologically, and it is aggressively trying to outcompete America in every corner of the globe.”In addition, Ratcliffe told members of The Company to be vigilant about threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea and other cyber attackers and terror cells, while suggesting Elon Musk’s DOGE would be helping to cut costs and possibly lay off needless employees.“We will be the ultimate meritocracy, and that means we will employ, develop, empower, and retain officers who are steadfastly focused on our mission,” the former Texas congressman said.“For decades, CIA has known nothing but growth, but the years of growing budgets and resources are behind us.

Moving forward, you will be part of a smaller, more elite and efficient workforce.”Ratcliffe added that he hoped agency leaders would “take on more risks” to “keep China in our rear-view window” — including with the use of AI and quantum computing in partnership with private contractors to create more resilient US infrastructure and target adversaries.“It won’t be easy, but I pledge to lead the charge in helping us do just that,” Ratcliffe...