Former Democratic Congresswoman Narrowly Approved by Senate, With McConnell as Lone Republican Opponent
In a historic and controversial confirmation, Tulsi Gabbard has been approved as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), despite bipartisan concerns over her past statements on Russia and foreign policy positions.
The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Gabbard, with only one Republican—Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky—opposing the nomination. Gabbard will now oversee 18 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI, and lead a workforce of more than 70,000 intelligence personnel.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and Iraq War veteran, has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics. Her past statements, including skepticism of U.S. interventionism, defense of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, and reluctance to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were key concerns during her tense Senate confirmation hearing last month.
- She refused to label Edward Snowden a “traitor”, a stance that worried intelligence officials.
- She partially walked back her previous claim that Russia was “provoked” into invading Ukraine but stopped short of fully condemning Moscow.
- She insisted she had “no love” for Assad, despite visiting Syria in 2017 while the U.S. sanctioned the regime.
Despite initial skepticism from Republicans, most ultimately backed her confirmation, viewing Gabbard as an independent thinker willing to challenge the Washington establishment.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key swing vote, said she was reassured by Gabbard’s willingness to question the status quo within the intelligence community.
“I have concerns about certain positions she has previously taken,” Murkowski admitted, “but I believe she brings independent thinking and necessary oversight to her new role.”
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell broke with his party, opposing Gabbard’s nomination. McConnell has repeatedly warned against appeasing Russia and is a staunch advocate for continued U.S. military support to Ukraine. His dissent highlights deepening divisions within the Republican Party over foreign policy.
As Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard now faces the daunting task of:
- Overseeing intelligence operations in an era of heightened global tensions.
- Managing U.S. national security interests while navigating concerns over her foreign policy approach.
- Leading an intelligence community she has openly criticized in the past.
Her outsider perspective could bring significant shifts in intelligence strategy, though whether she will challenge or reinforce existing policies remains to be seen.
Following Gabbard’s confirmation, the Senate immediately moved to a procedural vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary, signaling continued high-profile appointments in Trump’s administration.