Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to oppose Hegseth.
Ratcliffe told senators at a hearing last week that the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology like artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China.
Full USA TODAY news coverage of Marco Rubio, the former Florida senator who now serves as the U.S. Secretary of State in Donald Trump's cabinet.