Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), passed a critical Senate procedural vote on Monday, nearly ensuring her confirmation later this week. The 52-46 vote split along party lines, with all Republicans supporting her nomination and all Democrats opposing. The final Senate confirmation vote is expected to occur early Wednesday unless opponents agree to expedite the process.
While some Republican votes could still shift, Gabbard's confirmation remains highly likely. For instance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has not publicly endorsed Gabbard, supported the procedural vote but has previously broken with his party on nominations, such as his opposition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. However, Republican leaders remain confident in Gabbard's path to confirmation.
Gabbard, a former House member and military officer from Hawaii, left the Democratic Party in 2022, later joining the Republican Party in 2024 to back former President Donald Trump. Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised her qualifications, highlighting her extensive knowledge and leadership skills. He commended her plans to streamline the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which he described as overly bureaucratic and far removed from its original purpose of coordinating intelligence efforts efficiently.
“When Congress created this position after 9/11, the goal was to ensure cooperation across the intelligence community,” Thune explained. “Rather than becoming a lean, agile coordinator, the DNI office has grown into a sprawling bureaucracy. Ms. Gabbard’s commitment to eliminating inefficiencies is exactly what we need to refocus the ODNI.”
Similarly, Maine Senator Susan Collins, a key figure in creating the ODNI, cited Gabbard’s pledge to reduce the office's size and return to its intended purpose as pivotal to her support. However, Collins and other Republicans previously expressed concerns over Gabbard’s controversial positions, such as her past advocacy for pardoning whistleblower Edward Snowden.
To address concerns, Gabbard assured senators she would not recommend pardoning Snowden and vowed to hold any intelligence personnel accountable for leaking classified information. These assurances helped secure the support of Indiana Senator Todd Young, who was initially hesitant. While Gabbard avoided labeling Snowden a traitor during her confirmation hearing, she promised to work with lawmakers on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a provision she had criticized while in the House.
Young emphasized the importance of Gabbard’s willingness to collaborate with Congress on FISA reauthorization, given concerns about the program’s potential to collect Americans’ data without warrants. Her shift in position on these issues played a decisive role in gaining broader Republican backing.
Despite these assurances, Democrats remain firmly opposed to Gabbard’s nomination. They question her capacity to lead the intelligence community and doubt her ability to rebuild trust with U.S. allies. Democratic senators highlighted her controversial foreign policy stances, including her criticism of NATO and her past skepticism of allegations against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced strong opposition. “Ms. Gabbard has consistently excused our adversaries' actions while blaming the United States and our allies," Warner stated. He pointed to her past remarks blaming NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and her rejection of the Trump administration’s conclusion that Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
Democrats argue that these positions undermine her credibility and could jeopardize critical intelligence partnerships. They have also raised concerns about her ability to lead an impartial intelligence community, particularly given her alignment with Trump-era policies.
The Senate will reconvene this week for the final confirmation vote, barring any unexpected delays. Gabbard’s confirmation would mark a significant shift in the leadership of the DNI, aligning its priorities with Republican goals for streamlining operations and addressing inefficiencies. However, her controversial positions and partisan opposition will likely continue to spark debate.
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