WASHINGTON — GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas been confirmed as the next director of national intelligence after a Senate vote along party lines on Thursday.

The Republican lawmaker will replace acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell, who also is US ambassador to Germany and reportedly under consideration to lead the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

The Senate split 49-44 to confirm Ratcliffe in a sharply divided vote after he was approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this week.

Ratcliffe, who will now lead the nation’s 17 intelligence agencies, withdrew his nomination for the job last year after his bid was met with skepticism from Senate Republicans.