Tulsi Gabbard has officially been confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) following a 52-48 Senate vote on Tuesday.
Her confirmation marks a significant shift in leadership at the nation’s top intelligence post, despite facing strong opposition from Democrats and concerns from some Republicans.
Gabbard’s nomination saw unified Democratic opposition, with no Democrats voting in favor. Meanwhile, only one Republican, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), voted against her confirmation, making him the lone GOP defector in the process.
Gabbard’s confirmation was seen as one of the most controversial among Trump’s nominees, due to her longstanding opposition to foreign interventions and her criticism of intelligence agencies engaging in domestic surveillance.
In the lead-up to the vote, several Republican Senators, including Susan Collins (R-ME), John Curtis (R-UT), and Todd Young (R-IN), expressed doubts about her views and fitness for the role.
Much of the opposition centered around Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on foreign targets without a warrant. Gabbard has been an outspoken critic of domestic surveillance programs, which some lawmakers argued could compromise national security operations.
Reports suggested that the Senate Intelligence Committee initially debated keeping their votes private to avoid public scrutiny over their decision. However, Gabbard ultimately cleared the committee and moved forward to the full Senate.
On Monday night, the Senate voted 52-46 to invoke cloture, advancing her nomination to a final vote.
Despite initial concerns from some Republicans, all but McConnell ultimately voted to confirm Gabbard, signaling strong GOP support for Trump’s nominee.
McConnell’s opposition was not unexpected, as he has long been associated with interventionist foreign policy views that clash with Gabbard’s anti-war stance. His decision to break from the party line has already reignited calls for his retirement from conservative circles.
As Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, NSA, and FBI, and will be responsible for shaping national security policy. Her confirmation is expected to bring significant changes to the intelligence community, particularly in the areas of domestic surveillance, foreign intervention, and government transparency.
Her tenure will likely be closely watched, as both critics and supporters await how she will implement her vision for the country’s intelligence operations.