Tulsi Gabbard Faces Tough Questions at DNI Confirmation Hearing

President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, faced sharp questioning from Republican senators at her confirmation hearing on Thursday over her past praise for Edward Snowden, shifting views on surveillance, and controversial foreign policy positions.

With Republicans holding a slim 9-8 majority on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard’s nomination is on shaky ground. If she fails to secure full GOP support, her confirmation could be blocked unless she finds at least 60 votes in the full Senate—an unlikely scenario.

Snowden Controversy: “Is He a Traitor?”

Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate who later backed Trump, previously called Snowden a “brave whistleblower” and advocated for his pardon. Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified details of U.S. global surveillance programs before fleeing to Russia, where he remains a fugitive charged with espionage.

At the hearing, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) repeatedly asked Gabbard whether she considered Snowden a “traitor.”

“I’m focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again,” Gabbard responded, sidestepping the question.

Under pressure, she confirmed that, if confirmed as DNI, she would not seek a pardon for Snowden.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME):

“Would you seek a pardon or clemency for Snowden?”

Gabbard: “My responsibility would be to ensure the security of our nation’s secrets, and I would not take actions to advocate for any actions related to Snowden.”

Foreign Policy Criticism: Russia, Ukraine, and Assad

Gabbard’s past comments on NATO, Russia, and Syria also came under fire.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the committee’s ranking Democrat, accused Gabbard of blaming NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and echoing pro-Assad narratives about the Syrian civil war.

“What message would it send to the intelligence workforce to have a DNI who celebrates staff and contractors leaking our most sensitive secrets?” Warner asked, referencing her past defense of Snowden.

Warner also pointed to Gabbard’s 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, suggesting it raised “serious questions about her judgment.”

Gabbard fired back, denying she was aligned with Putin or Assad.

“The fact is what truly unsettles my political opponents is that I refuse to be their puppet,” she said.

Surveillance Stance: Flip-Flopping on FISA Section 702

Gabbard also faced tough questions over her previous opposition to the government’s warrantless surveillance program under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The program allows U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor foreign targets but incidentally collects Americans’ data in the process.

For years, Gabbard opposed the program, aligning with progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans who saw it as an overreach of government power. However, just weeks ago, she reversed course, saying recent amendments had addressed her concerns.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) wasn’t convinced.

“You will be the director of national intelligence, and people will be wanting to hear from you about what we should do as policy makers,” he told her after she dodged his question on whether she supports requiring warrants for searches involving Americans’ data.

Sen. Tom Cotton Defends Gabbard’s “Unconventional Views”

While some Republicans expressed skepticism, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), the Intelligence Committee chairman, defended Gabbard, dismissing concerns over her loyalty.

“She has undergone five FBI background checks. I spent more than two hours last week reviewing the latest, putting eyes on more than 300 pages. It’s clean as a whistle,” Cotton said.

He also praised her willingness to express “unconventional views” and argued she would be well-suited to reformingthe Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which he described as a bloated bureaucracy.

Gabbard agreed, saying the ODNI needed scaling back to its original mission of coordinating intelligence agencies rather than expanding government oversight.

Will Gabbard Be Confirmed?

With Democrats expected to oppose her nomination, Gabbard needs every Republican vote on the Senate Intelligence Committee to move forward.

If she fails to secure committee approval, her nomination could still go to a full Senate vote—but would need 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles, making confirmation unlikely.

Her past praise for Snowden, foreign policy controversies, and shifting views on surveillance have divided Republicans, leaving her fate uncertain.

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