President-elect Donald Trump‘s victory has sparked alarm among some in the intelligence community. There exists a general fear that his deep suspicion of the IC will lead him to fire vast numbers of personnel and politicize IC operations. At the same time, a smaller but significant cadre is optimistic that Trump will provide them with a freer hand to take action against U.S. adversaries.

Trump has nominated two former members of the House to head up the sprawling 18-agency-strong IC. John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence in Trump’s first term, is set to become CIA director. Trump has chosen former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to take Ratcliffe’s former role as director of national intelligence. Ratcliffe, who performed well as director of national intelligence, is likely to sail through his Senate confirmation hearings. Gabbard faces a tougher nomination fight in light of her previously expressed sympathies for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and Russian intelligence service fictions. Trump is also expected to nominate a top loyalist, such as former administration official Kash Patel, to lead the FBI.