Joe Biden Invites CIA Director William Burns to Join His Cabinet, Citing Expertise and Leadership in National Security Challenges

President Joe Biden has invited CIA Director William Burns to join his cabinet, citing Burns’ expertise and leadership in confronting a range of national security challenges. In a statement, Biden praised Burns for his “clear, straightforward analysis that prioritizes the safety and security of the American people,” and credited him with harnessing intelligence to give the country a strategic advantage.

Burns has been a central figure in the Biden administration, particularly in the White House strategy to declassify intelligence findings that Russia was intending to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He has also been instrumental in the U.S. tension with China.

Burns will join Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, who has been a cabinet member since the start of the Biden administration. Biden said he looks forward to continuing to work with Burns in the years ahead.

The move is seen as a symbolic gesture that underscores the intelligence chief’s influence and his work in U.S. support for Ukraine. Burns has served as CIA director since February 2021, and his elevation to the cabinet is a testament to his expertise and leadership.

The Biden administration has made a point of emphasizing the importance of intelligence in national security decision-making, and Burns’ elevation to the cabinet is a reflection of that commitment. With Burns’ leadership, the CIA is well-positioned to continue to serve as a critical strategic advantage for the United States.