The Senate confirmed former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the nation’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Wednesday, in a 52-48 vote that largely followed party lines. The decision capped two months of heated debate over Gabbard’s qualifications, foreign policy views, and past opposition to intelligence-gathering authorities.
Despite initial skepticism from some Republicans and strong objections from Democrats, Gabbard secured enough support after intense lobbying from the White House and key GOP figures. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) praised her as a "patriot, motivated by service," while opponents, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), called her "unqualified" and accused her of echoing Russian propaganda.
A Divisive Nomination
Gabbard, a former Democratic representative from Hawaii and a military veteran, will now oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and deliver President Trump’s daily intelligence briefing. However, her confirmation was far from smooth.
Many Republicans initially questioned her stance on intelligence matters, particularly her past opposition to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which provides a significant portion of intelligence used in presidential briefings. GOP lawmakers also raised concerns about her reluctance to label former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a traitor after his theft of 1.5 million classified documents.
Democrats, meanwhile, fiercely opposed her nomination, citing her past statements that questioned U.S. intelligence findings on Syria’s use of chemical weapons and her remarks regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
GOP Resistance Fades
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against Gabbard, but the tide turned in her favor after Vice President J.D. Vance personally reassured GOP skeptics, including Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), a former Marine intelligence officer. The backing of Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a leading national security hawk, also helped consolidate Republican support.
"Let me remind everyone that Ms. Gabbard has served in our Army for more than two decades, she has multiple combat tours, and she still wears the uniform today," Cotton said during her confirmation hearing, urging colleagues not to question her patriotism.
Democratic Concerns and Political Fallout
Democrats remained steadfast in their opposition. Schumer argued that Gabbard’s history of questioning intelligence assessments and her willingness to meet with controversial figures like Syrian dictator Bashar Assad made her unfit for the role.
"Of all people Donald Trump could have picked to oversee national intelligence, he picked someone known for repeating Russian propaganda and getting duped by conspiracy theories," Schumer said.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the Senate Intelligence Committee’s vice chair, criticized her for initially opposing the FISA surveillance program and for comments that appeared to align with Putin’s rationale for the Ukraine invasion.
The nomination also raised broader concerns about Trump’s personnel choices. Democrats and some national security experts viewed Gabbard’s appointment as part of a trend, alongside Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense and the upcoming vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
A Disruptor at the Helm
Gabbard is expected to bring significant change to the intelligence community, with Trump allies arguing that she will counteract what they see as a politicized intelligence apparatus. Supporters point to controversies such as the 2020 letter from 51 former intelligence officials suggesting Hunter Biden’s laptop story was Russian disinformation.
While she has now expressed support for Section 702, her previous opposition suggests she may take a skeptical approach to certain intelligence-gathering practices. How she navigates her new role will determine whether she can win over critics or further deepen the political divide over national security leadership.
