Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by the United States Senate as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Wednesday morning as President Donald Trump’s 14th cabinet victory since reentering office.
The former Democrat Hawaii congresswoman received a 52-48 vote, with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) joining Democrats against her.
Shortly before the final vote, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he was “proud” to say that every single Democrat would vote against her, claiming she “echoes Russian propaganda.”
Sen. John Barasso (R-WY) was one of Gabbard’s most vocal supporters in the Senate, saying ahead of the vote that she has the necessary “experience to keep our nation safe and secure”:
In a February 3 opinion piece in Newsweek, Gabbard listed her four day-one priorities:
First, to assess the global threat environment and identify where gaps in our intelligence exist, integrating intelligence elements, increasing information-sharing, and ensuring unbiased, apolitical, objective collection and analysis is provided to support President Trump and policymakers’ decision-making.
Second, I will deliver on President Trump’s commitment to the American people to end the politicization of the IC and provide focus to the IC’s essential mission, which is securing our nation.
Third, I will rebuild trust in the intelligence community through transparency and accountability.
Finally, I will assess and address efficiency, redundancy, and effectiveness across ODNI.
