Feb 4, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Tulsi Gabbard survives Senate committee vote for intel chief nomination

Stef W. Kight

Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence, arrives to testify during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee — Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence, arrives to testify during her confirmation hearing. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Senate Intelligence Committee narrowly approved Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday to be President Trump's Director of National Intelligence, voting along party lines.

Why it matters: Gabbard has proved to be one of Trump's most controversial nominees. With both Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) sitting on the panel, her ability to get through the committee was at times in question.

The vote was 9-8, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Catch up quick: Young announced he would support Gabbard's confirmation in a statement ahead of the vote, all but ensuring she would get through committee.

Young outlined several commitments Gabbard made to him to win his vote, including promising not to seek a pardon for Edward Snowden, updating the Senate Intel committee on foreign travel and working with the panel to reauthorize Section 702 of FISA.
His commitment came after a weekend of phone calls with Vice President Vance and Elon Musk, as well as an online pressure campaign.
Collins announced her support on Monday.

Zoom in: Gabbard faced tough questioning in her confirmation hearing, repeatedly refusing to call Snowden a traitor.

Questions have also been raised about a trip she took to Syria, references she has made to conspiracy theories about U.S. bio labs in Ukraine and her history of questioning the findings of the U.S. intelligence community.

What's next: The full Senate now has a green light to vote on Gabbard's nomination.

She can lose three GOP votes on the Senate floor and still be confirmed, thanks to a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Vance.

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Tulsi Gabbard survives Senate committee vote for intel chief nomination

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