Tulsi Gabbard Takes Helm as Director of National Intelligence
The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to lead the intelligence community as the Director of National Intelligence, overcoming initial doubts. President Trump was present at her swearing-in ceremony, which Attorney General Pam Bondi conducted in the Oval Office on a Wednesday afternoon. Gabbard pledged to “focus on ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people,” while echoing Trump’s assertions regarding the politicization of the intelligence community and the necessity of restoring trust.
Her confirmation vote, which ended at 52-48, saw substantial backing from Republicans. Despite criticisms over her limited experience in intelligence, Gabbard countered apprehensions regarding her previous statements about autocratic figures like Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. She also sidestepped queries about her past support for Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who exposed NSA secrets in 2013.
Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., remained opposed to Gabbard’s appointment and issued a statement post-vote, explaining that she “failed to demonstrate that she is prepared to assume this national trust.” He emphasized that the country should not have to worry about receiving biased intelligence assessments from a Director of National Intelligence with a history of concerning lapses in judgment. McConnell stood as the only Republican voice against her confirmation.
At 43, Gabbard, a U.S. Army Reservist who ran unsuccessfully for president as a Democrat in 2020, will manage 18 intelligence agencies and oversee billions of dollars in budget allocations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., described Gabbard as a “patriot” driven by service during a speech on the Senate floor. “The intelligence community needs to refocus on its core mission — collecting intelligence and providing unbiased analysis of that information. That’s what Tulsi Gabbard is committed to ensuring,” Thune stated.”