US President Donald Trump's efforts to overhaul the nation's intelligence apparatus appear set to continue, after members of Congress confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence.
The Senate on Wednesday (2/12) voted 52-48 to support Gabbard, narrowly rejecting concerns about her past experience and statements on classified intelligence leaks and other matters.
Gabbard has the support of all Republican senators except former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who joined Democrats in opposing her confirmation.
“The intelligence community needs to refocus on its core mission – which is collecting intelligence and providing unbiased analysis of that information,” said Republican Majority Leader John Thune, who praised Gabbard on Monday as lawmakers began debating her nomination.
“That’s what Tulsi Gabbard is committed to seeing to,” Thune said. “And I believe she has the knowledge and leadership skills to get it done.”
Democrats were less enthusiastic, and made a last-minute plea to their Republican colleagues to reject Gabbard.
“We cannot, in good conscience, entrust our most confidential secrets to someone who echoes Russian propaganda and believes in conspiracy theories,” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, speaking to lawmakers before Wednesday’s vote.
Schumer also accused most Republicans of tacitly agreeing with him.
“If we had a secret ballot, Gabbard might have gotten 10 votes,” he said. “People know that. That’s why they’re asking questions. But Donald Trump and Elon Musk are clearly threatening them, and they’re changing their minds.”
Trump picked Gabbard in November, praising her “fearless spirit.”
But the former Democratic congressman from Hawaii, who was once a Democratic presidential candidate, has faced widespread criticism from Democrats and some Republicans
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