Tulsi Gabbard has been confirmed as head of intelligence following the Senate’s approval. The US Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Gabbard was a previous Democratic legislator who has faced widespread criticism for her endorsement of foreign dictators and conspiracy theories. Just one Republican, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, opposed her confirmation in the Senate, which voted 52 to 48.
Gabbard repeated a common Donald Trump refrain that the US intelligence agencies had been used as political tools after they had sworn an oath of office during a ceremony in the Oval Office. He also vowed to “refocus our intelligence community.
She stated: “Unfortunately, the American people do not have much trust in the intelligence community, mostly because they’ve witnessed the politicization and weaponization of an institution that is meant to be solely devoted to protecting our national security,”
She concluded: “I look forward to being able to help fulfil that mandate that the American people gave to [Trump] very clearly in this election to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this manner and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”
In his short comments on Gabbard, Trump, who was observing the ceremony, called her “an American of extraordinary courage and patriotism.”
At a contentious confirmation hearing last month, Gabbard, 43, was grilled by Republicans and Democrats alike over her past pro-Russian statements and her backing of the regime of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, whom she met in 2017 when he was under US sanctions.
During the hearing, Gabbard partially retracted her claims that Russia was coerced into invading Ukraine, denied calling whistleblower Edward Snowden a “traitor,” and maintained that she had “no love” for Assad.
As the director of national intelligence, she will oversee 18 intelligence agencies, among them being the CIA and the FBI, that employ more than 70,000 people who work together to gather and secure the country’s most guarded secrets.
The Senate quickly moved to a procedural vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as secretary of health and human services after Gabbard’s confirmation vote.
Gabbard’s previous statements on Russia have attracted criticism alongside her controversial foreign policy stances. Her supposed deployment of Kremlin talking points to support Russia’s incursion into Ukraine has been controversial as the United States remains supportive of Ukraine in its resistance against Russian incursions.
Despite these concerns, Gabbard has repeatedly maintained that her positions are driven by a need to prioritize American interests and avoid unnecessary foreign interventions.
Gabbard will assume one of the most high-profile and sensitive jobs in the U.S. government as she prepares to begin working. To protect American interests, the Director of National Intelligence oversees the management of the nation’s intelligence community and ensures that organisations such as the FBI, CIA, and NSA are coordinating.
The DNI will play a key role in guiding the country’s intelligence response to terrorism, cybersecurity threats, and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the growing threats from state actors such as China and Russia. President Trump, who has rallied behind his nominee amidst strong resistance, perceives Gabbard’s confirmation as a victory.
Her prospects of confirmation improved greatly after a concerted effort by Trump loyalists, including tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who mobilized Republican support despite mounting pressure from opponents of Gabbard.
