WASHINGTON — During her confirmation hearing on Thursday, Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of director of national intelligence, addressed her past controversial viewpoints and emphasized the urgent need for reform within the U.S. intelligence community. Gabbard criticized former intelligence officials, arguing that the information provided to policymakers has frequently been inaccurate or influenced by politics, resulting in military interventions and foreign policy setbacks. She cited the invasion of Iraq as a significant failure of U.S. intelligence capabilities, asserting that similar failures persist as the country confronts renewed threats from Russia and China.
At the beginning of her session before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard declared, “This must end. President Trump’s reelection signifies a clear mandate from the American populace to break this cycle of failures, as well as the use of the intelligence community for political agendas.” Gabbard committed to maintaining objectivity and setting aside her personal beliefs for the role, drawing on her military experience to assure lawmakers of her commitment to responsibility in overseeing the 18 intelligence agencies.
Throughout the hearing, lawmakers from both parties pressed Gabbard on her previous statements regarding Russia and a meeting with Syria’s ousted president. Concerns were also raised about her expressions of support for Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after disclosing classified information on surveillance practices. Although Gabbard served as a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, and has undertaken two deployments to the Middle East, her lack of formal intelligence experience and government agency leadership raised alarms among some senators.
Gabbard’s statements have been contentious, particularly her alignment with Russian narratives related to the Ukraine invasion and her characterization of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a corrupt autocrat. Republican members have accused her of disseminating Russian propaganda and have pointed out that she has received favorable coverage in state-controlled Russian media. In response to a question from Senator Jerry Moran about whether Russia would be exempt from scrutiny under her leadership, Gabbard expressed offense, asserting, “My sole focus and responsibility is our nation, our security, and the interests of the American people.”
Her prior meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad has also been a focal point of criticism, especially given the ongoing fallout from his actions during the Syrian civil war, including the use of chemical weapons. Gabbard’s assertion that she was skeptical of Assad’s chemical weapon use led to further backlash. In answer to Senator Mark Warner’s critique regarding her failure to condemn Assad unequivocally, Gabbard maintained that her visit was aimed at discussing human rights issues directly with the Syrian leader.
When questioned about her stance on Snowden, while acknowledging that he brought significant surveillance issues to light, Gabbard affirmed that he had broken the law. She dodged inquiries on whether she viewed Snowden as a traitor but has previously sponsored legislation aimed at repealing Section 702, which allows for the collection of foreign terrorist communications but has raised privacy concerns for Americans. Gabbard has since revised her stance, expressing support for the program with new privacy protections, defending herself against critics by asserting that her willingness to question established views unsettles political opponents.
Despite bipartisan skepticism surrounding her nomination, Gabbard has garnered increasing Republican backing. Her confirmation will hinge on securing almost unanimous support from GOP senators due to narrow margins in the Senate. During the hearing, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton voiced his endorsement of Gabbard, emphasizing the need to streamline the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which has expanded beyond its intended mission. Cotton remarked, “Perhaps Washington could benefit from some unconventional thinking,” and urged Gabbard that her success, if confirmed, would depend on restoring the office’s original size and purpose.
