Scoop: Senate Dems delay Tulsi Gabbard nomination
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Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Trump's nominee to be director of National Intelligence, on Capitol Hill on Dec. 18, 2024. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Senate Democrats are forcing a delay in Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing next week, claiming she hasn't provided required vetting materials — while Republicans accuse them of playing games, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's the first taste of what's expected to be a drama-filled few weeks as the Senate takes up some of President-elect Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks.
- Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is balking at GOP requests to hold a hearing for Gabbard early next week, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations.
- Gabbard, a former member of the House, is Trump's pick for national intelligence director.
- Warner has pointed out that the committee has not yet received Gabbard's FBI background check, ethics disclosure or a pre-hearing questionnaire, a source familiar with the matter told us. Committee rules require the background check a week in advance of a hearing.
The other side: Gabbard completed the background check process last week, according to a source working with the nominee. Her active security clearance also means the process will be expedited.
- Gabbard submitted an initial pre-hearing questionnaire and intends to submit a second on time and was given a Thursday deadline, the source said.
- Another source familiar said the ethics disclosures have been delayed for multiple nominees due to the snow and other logistics but are expected to come through soon.
Between the lines: Either way, without the materials or sign off from Democrats, the hearing for one of Trump's most vital national security officials could be pushed to late next week — if not the week following.
- Intel Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) "intends to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day," a spokesperson told Axios. "The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal."
- "After the terrorist attacks on New Year's Eve and New Years Day, it's sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans' safety and our national security," Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning told Axios in a statement, adding the nominee is willing to meet with every committee member.
The details: Committee rules hold that a confirmation hearing cannot be held until seven days after the panel receives "background questionnaire, financial disclosure statement, and responses to additional pre-hearing questions."
- That gives the Gabbard and the transition team just a couple days if the committee wants to easily set up a hearing for next week.
- Cotton could bypass that rule with a majority vote of the panel. But it would be a rare step for a committee that has long prided itself on bipartisanship.
The big picture: Gabbard is still making the rounds with Senate Democrats before the hearing and is scheduled to meet with Warner today.
- Gabbard will also meet with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Az.) and Angus King (I-Maine) later this week, per a source. She has already met with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) — all members of the intelligence panel.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is a Republican (not a Democrat).
