Source: Former Senator Dan Coats To Be Director Of National Intelligence

President-elect Donald Trump will appoint former Indiana Senator Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence.

The pick could be announced later this week, according to a person briefed Thursday on the decision. The person was but not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump's decision comes as he has been sharply critical of the nation's intelligence agencies and has cast doubt about their conclusion that Russia was behind hacking to influence last year's elections.

Trump on Friday will meet with directors of the FBI and CIA, as well as current DNI James Clapper to be briefed on their findings.

A handful of local lawmakers have publicly responded to the decision, although none of them have confirmed the news.

Former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar says Coats will bring valuable experience to the job.

"He is a student of international affairs and of intelligent services," Lugar says. "And [...] he has served abroad, as our ambassador to Germany, had personal experience really on the front lines."

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly says he is "encouraged by reports of Dan’s nomination because he is clear-eyed about the intelligence threats we face, including from Vladimir Putin and Russia.”

Coats was critical of Russia in 2014 when the country annexed Crimea from Ukraine, supporting President Barack Obama's proposed sanctions against Russia as punishment. The comments led to Russia banning Coats from entering the country.

U.S. Representative Jim Banks also praised the choice.

“Dan Coats is an excellent choice for Director of National Intelligence, there's no question,” Banks says. “He is respected on both sides of the aisle and has worked on national security issues throughout his career in public service.”

Coats spent 18 years in Congress, in both the House and Senate, from 1981 to 1999 before retiring to fulfill a self-imposed term limits promise.

Coats announced in March 2015 that he would not run for reelection in the Senate.

Indiana Public Broadcasting's Drew Daudelin contributed to this report.