NEW: Moderate GOP Holdout Flips, Commits To Voting For Tulsi Gabbard’s Confirmation

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), long viewed as a key moderate in the Senate, announced Monday that she will vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), giving the former congresswoman a critical boost in her contentious nomination process. Murkowski’s decision, posted on X, signals a turning point in Gabbard’s confirmation fight.

“I will vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence,” Murkowski wrote. “While I continue to have concerns about certain positions she has previously taken, I appreciate her commitment to rein in the outsized scope of the agency while still enabling the ODNI to continue its essential function in upholding national security.”

“As she brings independent thinking and necessary oversight to her new role, I am counting on her to ensure the safety and civil liberties of American citizens remain rigorously protected,” Murkowski finished.

With Murkowski’s backing, Gabbard is gaining momentum among moderate Republicans who had previously expressed their hesitations over her past foreign policy stances, including remarks on U.S. involvement overseas and her meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who later became a vocal critic of her own party and an ally of President Donald Trump, has faced fierce opposition from Senate Democrats and even some members of the GOP.

Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), whom Gabbard once endorsed for president, has opposed her nomination, citing concerns over her foreign policy views and past rhetoric. The political rift has sparked debate over whether her views align with mainstream intelligence priorities or if they signal a more isolationist approach under the Trump administration.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has been one of Gabbard’s most vocal critics, branding her a “walking five-alarm fire” and warning that her confirmation would inject instability into the intelligence community.

Much of the controversy surrounding Gabbard’s nomination stems from her foreign policy positions. She has been criticized for questioning U.S. support for Ukraine and for amplifying concerns about U.S.-funded bio-labs in the region—claims that former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) previously slammed.

Her transition from a Democratic congresswoman to a staunch Republican ally has also fueled scrutiny. Gabbard, who has been a frequent critic of the Democratic Party’s direction, left the party in 2022, citing its shift toward “woke” policies and interventionist foreign affairs. Since then, she has embraced Trump’s America First movement, aligning with conservatives on national security and intelligence reform.

Despite the criticism, Murkowski’s statement suggests that Gabbard’s commitment to scaling back the intelligence community’s overreach is resonating with some lawmakers. Republicans who support Gabbard’s nomination argue that intelligence agencies have grown too powerful and politicized in recent years, warranting reform.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has backed Gabbard, saying, “We need reform to stop the abuse of things like FISA Section 702. Stop spying on Americans. I hope Tulsi gets confirmed because we need that kind of reform.”

Gabbard also secured support from key GOP senators, including Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Todd Young (R-IN). If confirmed, Gabbard would be the first woman to hold the position of DNI under a Republican administration.