Tulsi Gabbard passes Senate committee vote, paving way to DNI confirmation

Tulsi Gabbard approved by Senate committee for DNI, faces bipartisan scepticism, expected to face wider Senate vote.

Hindu-American Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to oversee spy agencies, has been approved by a key Senate committee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in a private vote, paving the way toward a wider Senate vote on her confirmation.

The Republican-led Senate Select Committee on Intelligence approved Ms. Gabbard’s nomination in a closed committee vote of 9-8, along party lines. The full Senate is expected to vote on her confirmation as early as next week, the Washington Post reported.

Ms. Gabbard, 43, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, had faced bipartisan scepticism about her suitability for overseeing the spy agencies.

“The Intelligence Committee just voted for Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence favourably to the full United States Senate,” Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton told reporters on Tuesday (February 4, 2025) after the closed-door vote.

“We look forward to her confirmation and working with her to keep America safe,” he was quoted as saying by the Hill.

The vote took place only hours after Senator Todd Young, a key Republican swing vote, announced that he would support her.

Ms. Gabbard secured another big win on Monday (February 3, 2025) as Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that she would back her in the committee vote.