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The Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday (February 12). The vote was 52-48, with nearly all Republicans supporting her nomination, except for Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who joined Democrats in opposition. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, was an unconventional choice due to her past comments sympathetic to Russia and her meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Despite concerns, she won over GOP senators by promising to refocus the office's core missions of coordinating federal intelligence work and advising the president.
Gabbard, a military veteran, has no formal intelligence experience. Her confirmation marks a significant win for President Trump, who has long been critical of the intelligence community. During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard addressed concerns about her past support for Edward Snowden, stating that while he disclosed important facts, he broke the law. She also defended her meeting with Assad, saying she pressed him on human rights issues.
Democrats criticized her lack of experience and questioned her ability to stand up to Trump. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns about her past sympathies towards Russia and Assad. However, Gabbard's supporters, like Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, believe she will bring independent thinking to the role.
Gabbard's confirmation comes as Trump continues to reshape the federal government, with intelligence agencies offering voluntary resignations and cybersecurity experts raising concerns about Elon Musk's access to sensitive data. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the September 11 attacks to address intelligence failures. Gabbard's role will involve overseeing 18 intelligence agencies and advising the president on intelligence matters.
