Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence (DNI) moved a step closer to confirmation after the Senate Intelligence Committee approved it in a narrow 9-8 vote, with all Republicans supporting her and all Democrats opposing.
The decision sets the stage for a full Senate vote, where Gabbard will need near-unanimous Republican backing to secure the position.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and 2020 presidential candidate, has sparked controversy due to her past comments sympathetic to Russia, her meeting with Syria’s former leader Bashar al-Assad, and her defence of Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified intelligence.
These issues made her one of the most divisive picks for US President Donald Trump’s cabinet.
During her contentious confirmation hearing, Gabbard attempted to clarify her stance on Snowden, stating that while he “broke the law,” his leaks exposed “illegal and unconstitutional programs” within the US government. However, she avoided directly calling him a traitor, despite repeated questioning from both Republican and Democratic senators, as per AP.
Initial Republican support for Gabbard was uncertain, as some lawmakers raised concerns about her lack of intelligence experience and her history of challenging US intelligence agencies.
However, a weekend pressure campaign led by Trump supporters, including Elon Musk, helped secure votes. Musk had initially criticised Sen Todd Young for his tough questioning of Gabbard but later called him an “ally” after Young announced his support, The New York Times reported.
Young, whose opposition could have stalled Gabbard’s nomination, later explained that he backed her after securing written assurances that she would hold officials accountable for unauthorised disclosures and not intervene in discussions about Snowden’s legal status. Other swing votes, such as Sen Susan Collins, also came around after Gabbard pledged to shrink the size of the ODNI and return it to its original coordinating role among intelligence agencies.
Democrats have remained firmly opposed to Gabbard’s nomination. Sen Mark Kelly warned that her “tendency to embrace poorly supported claims” over intelligence assessments was “dangerous”. Sen Martin Heinrich went further, labelling her a “national security risk” who “parrots dictators’ talking points”, according to The New York Times.
With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the Senate, Gabbard’s confirmation is not guaranteed. A date for the full Senate vote has yet to be scheduled.
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About The Author
I’m JP, a 26-year-old from Odisha, India 🇮🇳 and the founder of newsxbyte.com 📰. I write articles and news on a variety of topics, including business, finance 💼, and exam updates 📚. With a passion for journalism and digital content, I strive to keep my readers informed and engaged with the latest updates and insights.
