Politics
JUST IN: Tulsi Gabbard Passes Senate Intel Committee, Heads To Full Vote
Tulsi Gabbard’s bid to become the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) took another step Tuesday after the Senate Intelligence Committee narrowly voted to recommend her nomination, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. The 9-8 vote fell strictly along party lines, with Republicans backing President Donald Trump’s pick and Democrats remaining opposed.
The approval moves Gabbard one step closer to confirmation, which is expected to be decided in the coming days. Given the GOP’s narrow majority, she is likely to secure the position with Republican-only support.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and 2020 presidential candidate, has remained a divisive figure in national politics, particularly for her criticism of establishment foreign policy and intelligence agencies. She often clashed with Democratic leadership on national security issues while earning praise from some conservatives for her independent streak.
“The Intelligence Committee just voted for Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence favorably to the full United States Senate,” said Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-AK) following the vote. He added, “We look forward to her confirmation and working with her to keep America safe.”
A key moment in the process came Monday when Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a frequent swing vote, announced her support for Gabbard’s nomination, effectively guaranteeing her passage through the committee. Collins highlighted Gabbard’s commitment to reforming the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which she argued had grown beyond its intended scope.
“After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence,” Collins stated. “The DNI plays a critical role in coordinating intelligence efforts, and Ms. Gabbard understands the need to refocus the agency on its core mission.”
Senator Todd Young (R-IN), the last holdout and a critical swing vote, announced his support for Gabbard just hours before the vote. Sen. Young, who faced considerable pressure from Trump allies, ultimately decided to back Gabbard’s nomination.
“I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard’s engagement with me on a variety of issues to ensure that our intelligence professionals will be supported and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership,” Young announced Tuesday morning before the vote.
“Having now secured these commitments, I will support Tulsi’s nomination and look forward to working with her to protect our national security,” Young said.
During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard was pressed on her past interactions with foreign leaders, including Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, as well as her views on whistleblower Edward Snowden. She pushed back forcefully against accusations that she was too lenient on adversarial regimes, instead turning the spotlight on what she called the politicization of the U.S. intelligence community.
“The American people elected Donald Trump not once but twice, and yet the American intelligence agencies were politicized by his opponents to undermine his presidency and falsely portray him as a puppet of Vladimir Putin,” Gabbard said before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week.
With the committee vote secured, Gabbard’s nomination now heads to the Senate floor, where Republicans are expected to confirm her with their slim majority. If confirmed, Gabbard will assume the role of DNI at a critical moment, overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies amid rising global tensions.
