Uncertainty Surrounds Tulsi Gabbard's Nomination as Top Spy

By Andrea Shalal and Gram Slattery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Eight Republican senators are reportedly hesitant to endorse former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as America’s next director of national intelligence, raising concerns over her potential Senate confirmation.

Doubts About Confirmation

According to a source connected with the Trump transition team and another informed source, doubts regarding Gabbard’s readiness to answer pressing questions from senators have surfaced during initial meetings last week on Capitol Hill. Her past visit to Syria and limited intelligence experience have contributed to these reservations.

Transition spokesperson Alexa Henning addressed these concerns, indicating no Republican senator has publicly opposed Gabbard. "There is not one GOP Senator on the record that opposes Lt. Col. Gabbard's nomination," Henning stated, labeling the doubts as media-driven rumors.

For Gabbard to secure her nomination, Trump would need to garner support from at least five Democrats, a challenging task with Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47 come January 3.

Experience and Russia Concerns

Gabbard's nomination has triggered significant alarm within national security circles. Critics view her as too lenient on Russia and cite her opposition to military aid for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. Nearly 100 former national security officials have criticized her nomination, advocating for closed hearings to assess relevant government information about her.

Supporters argue that Gabbard's skepticism towards military interventions aligns with Trump’s America First stance, recalling her prior endorsements of him at campaign rallies.

While some Republicans initially leaned towards opposing Gabbard before her meetings with senators, recent shifts suggest a more neutral stance, indicating a possible trajectory towards confirmation to avoid retribution from Trump.

Gabbard engaged with several key Republican senators and Democrats, expressing her eagerness to continue the confirmation process. If confirmed, she would oversee the U.S. intelligence community and coordinate activities with a significant budget exceeding $106 billion for fiscal 2024.