WASHINGTON — Michael Ellis, the deputy director of the CIA, has abruptly demoted a career lawyer who had been serving as the agency’s acting general counsel since January and installed himself in that role, according to people familiar with the matter.

Ellis, who played a role in a series of controversies during President Donald Trump’s first term, is also retaining his position as the No. 2 official at the CIA. John Ratcliffe, the agency director, had to authorize or could have overridden the move.

It was not clear what was behind Ellis’ taking personal control of making legal judgments for the agency while continuing to help lead it, but the move raised alarms among some current and former intelligence officials.

Stephen Gillers, a New York University professor of legal ethics, called

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