Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) advanced out of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, despite facing opposition from some Republicans and national security advocates.
Convening in a closed session, the committee revealed that the vote to advance Gabbard’s nomination was split along party lines, with nine Republicans voting in favor and eight Democrats opposing her, according to the New York Post.
If confirmed, Gabbard, 43, will be tasked with overseeing the U.S. Intelligence Community and advising the president on intelligence matters. However, the nomination faces a tough road ahead.
Gabbard can afford to lose no more than three GOP votes in the full Senate to secure her confirmation, The Post notes.
Her advancement comes shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination, which advanced with a slightly narrower margin of 14-13, highlighting the tight partisan divides within Senate committees over key nominations.
Concerns surrounding Gabbard’s past views on national security and intelligence have raised alarms, especially among some Republicans and national security advocates. These concerns are centered on her previous skepticism of the U.S. intelligence community, particularly its claims that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was responsible for chemical weapons attacks during the civil war in Syria.
During last week’s open confirmation hearing, several Republican senators expressed reservations about Gabbard’s past positions. Indiana Sen. Todd Young challenged Gabbard, urging her to acknowledge the harm caused by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information regarding the NSA’s surveillance programs.
Gabbard, who had previously supported Snowden, refused to label him a “traitor” but did concede that he had broken the law by disclosing the details of the warrantless surveillance program, The Post reports.
Despite these concerns, Young ultimately announced he would support Gabbard after receiving assurances from her that intelligence professionals would be supported and that policymakers would be provided with unbiased information under her leadership.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, another potential swing vote, also came out in favor of Gabbard. She praised her plans to reduce the size of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Additionally, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, who had expressed skepticism, confirmed his support for the nomination earlier this week.
While most Republicans on the panel backed Gabbard, nearly all Democrats, except for Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, who is known for his staunch privacy advocacy, raised concerns about her suitability for the role. During the hearing, Gabbard addressed her change of stance on several issues, including her earlier opposition to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which authorizes surveillance on foreign nationals abroad.
Gabbard stated that she now recognizes the necessity of Section 702 for national security and its importance for foreign surveillance.
In addition, Gabbard defended her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, stating she had confronted him about his regime’s actions, including the use of chemical weapons and violence against his own people.
Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R) expressed confidence in Gabbard’s nomination, stating on X that he looks forward to working with her once she’s confirmed.
Gabbard, an Army veteran, represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives and ran for president as a Democrat, according to USA Today. In 2022, she switched her affiliation to the Republican Party, endorsing President Donald Trump in the process.
