Former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is encountering significant Republican opposition as she seeks confirmation as director of national intelligence (DNI). With the Senate Intelligence Committee evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, Gabbard cannot afford to lose a single GOP vote to secure her nomination.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican member of the Intelligence Committee, expressed uncertainty about Gabbard’s prospects, stating, “The jury’s still out.” Other Republicans, such as Senator Susan Collins, have raised specific concerns over Gabbard’s past stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which permits warrantless surveillance of foreign targets.
As a House member in 2020, Gabbard proposed repealing Section 702 and voted against its reauthorization. While Gabbard recently told Punchbowl News that she now supports the program as “crucial” to national security, skeptics like Collins remain unconvinced.
Republican Senator Todd Young is another potential obstacle. According to GOP aides, Young and others on the committee have expressed deep reservations about Gabbard, complicating her path to confirmation.
Even if Gabbard secures approval from the Intelligence Committee, she faces strong resistance within the broader Senate. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a pivotal Republican voice, has reportedly urged colleagues to oppose her nomination, citing concerns over her foreign policy views.
Gabbard’s past remarks and actions regarding Russia and Syria have drawn scrutiny. She has been criticized for her perceived sympathies toward Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and for expressing skepticism about U.S. interventionist policies. These positions have made her a polarizing figure among national security-focused Republicans.
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s 9–8 partisan split leaves Gabbard’s fate in the hands of GOP members like Collins and Young. Recent history underscores the challenge of partisan tensions: Collins was one of three Republicans who opposed Pete Hegseth’s nomination as secretary of defense, requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast a tiebreaking vote.
If confirmed, Gabbard would oversee the nation’s intelligence apparatus during a critical period of geopolitical challenges. However, significant Republican opposition raises doubts about whether her nomination will survive committee scrutiny or a full Senate vote.
