Wed Feb 05 10:48:04 UTC 2025: ## Tulsi Gabbard Cleared by Senate Committee for DNI Post
**Washington D.C., February 5, 2025** – Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has been approved by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The 9-8 vote, falling strictly along party lines, clears the way for a full Senate vote expected as early as next week.
Gabbard’s nomination has been met with bipartisan skepticism due to past comments and actions, including a 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and statements perceived as sympathetic to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Despite this, key Republican senators, including Todd Young and Susan Collins, ultimately voiced their support.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton expressed confidence in Gabbard, stating that the committee “looks forward to her confirmation and working with her to keep America safe.”
Gabbard, a veteran with deployments to the Middle East and Africa, switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in October 2022, formally endorsing Trump for president in August 2024 and subsequently joining his transition team. Her confirmation now hinges on a full Senate vote.
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