Washington, DC: The Senate on Wednesday voted 52-48 to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was the only Republican voting against Gabbard’s nomination.
The Trump White House released a statement touting Gabbard’s confirmation following the vote.
“Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation as Director of National Intelligence highlights President Trump’s commitment to safeguarding America’s security and ensuring intelligence operations remain focused on protecting our nation and the American people,” the White House stated. “America is BACK!”
As Trump’s DNI, Gabbard will manage the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and advise the president on national security. As a former Democrat congresswoman from Hawaii and current lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, she brings both legislative and military experience to the table.
She served in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021 and was vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2013 to 2016.
Gabbard has been recognized for her service in the Hawaii Army National Guard, which she joined in 2003. Her service includes deployments to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, where she served in a medical unit, and Kuwait from 2008 to 2009, where she served as an Army Military Police platoon leader.
Gabbard was confirmed with key votes from Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Curtis (R-Utah), all of whom had expressed concerns with her nomination.
She told the Senate Intelligence Committee last month that if she became the director of national intelligence, she would focus on protecting Americans. For too long, the United States’ national security had been undermined by faulty, incomplete, or weaponized intelligence, she said. Gabbard said she hoped to increase information sharing within the intelligence community and make intelligence-gathering systems more effective and efficient. She also hoped to increase accountability and transparency, she added.
