The US Senate has approved the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), who will take on the important responsibility of overseeing 18 agencies of the US intelligence community. The decision was taken by a narrow 52-48 margin in Wednesday’s confirmation vote, reflecting deep disagreements on Capitol Hill about Gabbard’s abilities and her controversial views.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former four-term Democratic representative from Hawaii, won the post after overcoming a tense confirmation process that saw questions raised over her past statements on Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
A former soldier who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, Gabbard now brings military experience to her new role. However, his political history has been questioned from both sides. In particular, his visit to Syria in 2017, where he met President Assad, drew strong reactions. Critics say that this meeting gave support to a tyrannical regime.
Additionally, Gabbard’s sympathetic and supportive rhetoric toward Russia has caused concern over the years. Comments he has made in favor of Russia, particularly the actions of President Vladimir Putin, have brought him into direct conflict with American intelligence and foreign policy perspectives. Nearly 100 former intelligence and national security officials sent a letter to the Senate warning about Gabbard’s “questionable judgment” and demanding a more thorough investigation of her record.
Gabbard refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor during her confirmation hearing, prompting further criticism. Snowden, who leaked classified intelligence, has become a highly divisive figure in American politics. Asked repeatedly, Gabbard only said that Snowden “violated the law” but did not label him a traitor.
Gabbard’s change in political affiliation has further complicated the situation. Gabbard, once recognized as an emerging leader of the Democratic Party, left the party in 2022 and became a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, while in 2020 she ran for president as a Democrat. Trump’s policies and his support for the Republican Party have raised concerns among some Democratic lawmakers about his impartiality as DNI.
At her confirmation hearing on January 30, Gabbard faced intense scrutiny, particularly from Democratic members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The party-based divide was clearly visible when the committee voted to approve his nomination.
It is now clear that Gabbard will serve as the President’s top intelligence advisor and will also be responsible for coordinating the country’s intelligence operations. His confirmation is considered a major change in US intelligence leadership, with some hoping his diverse background and military service will bring fresh perspective, while others are wary of his controversial past.
Gabbard’s confirmation marks a historic milestone as the first woman of Pacific Islander descent to hold this role. However, her tenure will be closely monitored as critics are set to closely scrutinize her every move, especially as she leads the country’s intelligence community amid global tensions.
Senate Confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Trump’s National Intelligence Director
