Tulsi Gabbard’s DNI nomination faces GOP resistance over Snowden stance

The confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is facing serious headwinds as Republican senators express concerns over her stance on former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. During a contentious Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Thursday, Gabbard’s refusal to call Snowden a “traitor” or explicitly state that his actions harmed national security set off alarms among key GOP lawmakers.

A Contentious Hearing

Throughout the hearing, Republican senators repeatedly pressed Gabbard on her views regarding Snowden’s 2013 leak of classified documents, which exposed government surveillance programs and compromised sensitive intelligence operations. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) made it clear that labeling Snowden a traitor would have reassured the committee about her nomination.

“I was surprised, because that doesn’t seem like a hard question,” Lankford said after the hearing. “It wasn’t intended to be a trick question by any means.”

Rather than directly answering, Gabbard emphasized that Snowden “broke the law” but pivoted to discussing future safeguards against similar leaks. That response did little to ease concerns.

Republican Doubts Grow

Several Republican senators expressed skepticism about Gabbard’s ability to lead the nation’s intelligence community. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) pressed her on whether Snowden’s actions damaged U.S. national security, citing a bipartisan House Intelligence Committee report that concluded his leaks had caused “tremendous harm” to military, defense, and intelligence programs.

Gabbard did not directly acknowledge the extent of the damage, stating instead that she was focused on “preventing another Snowden-type leak.” Young, who remains undecided on her nomination, appeared unconvinced, calling her response “notable.”

Her past advocacy for pardoning Snowden—through legislation co-sponsored with former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)—also became a flashpoint. Young challenged her on why she previously supported dropping charges against someone he said “likely endangered American lives.”

Crucial Votes in Play

With Republicans holding a narrow majority on the Intelligence Committee, even a single defection could stall Gabbard’s nomination. Some senators, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), gave her performance a lukewarm review.

“Umm, I thought she did OK,” Cornyn said, suggesting her confirmation remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) appeared more satisfied after Gabbard assured her she would not advocate for clemency or a pardon for Snowden. “I was happy with her responses to my questions,” Collins said.

However, Collins still has reservations about Gabbard’s position on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which governs intelligence collection on foreign targets. While some Republicans believe Gabbard has softened her previous opposition to the program, Collins noted that she “hedged” her answers on the subject.

A Divided Republican Caucus

Despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressing optimism about Gabbard’s overall hearing performance, he acknowledged lingering unease among some of his colleagues.

“Everybody is going to come to their own conclusions,” Thune said. “There were issues she had to deal with and address. We’ll see how it goes.”

A Democratic senator with strong GOP ties summed up the Republican skepticism: “If you’re a Republican on the Intelligence Committee, and you’ve got someone in front of you who won’t denounce Snowden and has opposed Section 702, it’s clear they’re afraid she can’t be trusted.”

What’s Next?

Gabbard’s nomination remains in limbo as Republican senators weigh whether they can support her confirmation. While some, like Collins, have found reassurances in her responses, others remain unconvinced. With the Intelligence Committee’s one-seat GOP majority, a single dissenting vote could derail her path to confirmation.

For now, Gabbard’s fate hangs on whether she can convince enough Republicans that her past views on Snowden and government surveillance will not compromise her ability to lead the intelligence community.