Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as US Director of National Intelligence

(CLO) Tulsi Gabbard, a former US Congresswoman with little experience in the intelligence field, was confirmed by the US Senate as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Wednesday.

This is considered one of President Donald Trump's most controversial nominations, but has received strong support from the Republican Party.

Ms. Tulsi Gabbard. Photo: Gage Skidmore

The US Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Ms. Gabbard as the overseer of 18 US intelligence agencies and as President Trump's chief adviser on intelligence matters.

Ms. Gabbard, 43, was a member of the Democratic Party but left the party in 2022 to become an independent, then joined the Republican Party in 2024. She has never worked at an intelligence agency nor served on any intelligence committee during her four terms in the House.

As head of the US intelligence community, Gabbard will oversee a massive intelligence apparatus created after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, while also serving as the president's chief intelligence adviser.

“The selection of a director of national intelligence is a very important matter,” said Emily Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). “The person in this position has broad access to classified information and plays a key role in shaping national security policy.”

Mr Trump's nomination of Ms Gabbard in November 2024 sent shockwaves through the national security community, raising concerns that intelligence operations could become politicised under his second term.

During the hearing, Gabbard also faced pointed questions from both parties about her defense of former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked thousands of classified documents before seeking asylum in Russia. She declined to call Snowden a “traitor,” which frustrated some senators.

In the past, Directors of National Intelligence were typically veteran intelligence professionals and confirmed with broad bipartisan support.

Cao Phong (according to CNA, CNN, NYT)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ba-tulsi-gabbard-duoc-phe-chuan-lam-giam-doc-tinh-bao-quoc-gia-my-post334325.html