Senate Set to Vote on Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence

Washington, D.C. — The Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Gabbard’s nomination has faced significant scrutiny but survived crucial procedural tests, including a 9-8 vote from the Senate Intelligence Committee last week and a party-line advance vote 52-46 this past Monday.

Gabbard, 43, is a former Democratic congresswoman who represented Hawaii from 2013 to 2021 and pursued the party’s nomination for the presidency in 2020. After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, she endorsed President Trump‘s 2024 campaign. Despite her lengthy service in the Army National Guard, Gabbard lacks a traditional background in intelligence, raising concerns during her nomination process.

Her confirmation hearing last month was marked by contentious exchanges with senators from both parties. She faced tough questions about her past meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, her comments regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and her previous opposition to renewing a key surveillance authority. Notably, Gabbard refrained from labeling whistleblower Edward Snowden a “traitor,” which was a central point of contention.

As the nomination progressed, GOP support increased unexpectedly. Senators Susan Collins and Todd Young expressed their backing, contributing to the Senate Intelligence Committee’s recommendation for her confirmation.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Gabbard prior to the procedural vote, asserting her patriotism and commitment to the intelligence community’s core mission. “The intelligence community needs to refocus on its core mission — collecting intelligence and providing unbiased analysis of that information,” Thune said. “Tulsi Gabbard is committed to ensuring that if she is confirmed to be DNI.”

Conversely, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Republican support for Gabbard, which he attributed to pressure from Trump. “By now, there is no question about whether or not Miss Gabbard is qualified to lead America’s intelligence agencies,” Schumer stated. “By every objective measure she is not.”

During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard emphasized her qualifications, drawing on her experience as a battalion commander and her role on key congressional committees, including Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs. She highlighted the importance of accurate intelligence for the safety of the president and Congress, and stressed the implications of intelligence failures on national security.

“For too long, faulty, inadequate, or weaponized intelligence have led to costly failures,” she said, noting that Trump’s election in 2024 indicated a mandate for change. “If confirmed as DNI, I will do my very best to fulfill this mandate and bring leadership to the intelligence community focused on ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.”