Senate Committee Advances Tulsi Gabbard's DNI Nomination

Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as director of national intelligence advanced after a narrow 9-8 vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee, with Republicans supporting her unanimously and Democrats opposing her. Gabbard, a former Democrat now aligned with Trump, faced intense scrutiny during her confirmation hearing regarding her past comments on Edward Snowden and meetings with controversial figures like Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Despite concerns about her lack of experience and foreign policy views, key GOP senators, including Susan Collins and Todd Young, expressed their support following her assurances about national security priorities. Gabbard's confirmation is not guaranteed, as she cannot afford to lose more than three Republican votes in the full Senate, where unified Democratic opposition is expected. The intelligence community, which she would oversee, has a budget exceeding $100 billion and comprises 18 agencies. Gabbard aims to address the politicization within the intelligence community if confirmed.