Senate Could Soon Scrutinize Gabbard, a Potential Trump Nominee
Current and former Senate GOP aides suggest that the former Democratic congressperson’s journey to becoming the nation’s top spy is anything but assured.
TroibNews 
Tulsi Gabbard appears poised to be the next Cabinet nominee of President-elect Donald Trump to encounter a challenging confirmation process in the U.S. Senate.
Several current and former GOP Senate aides, who are familiar with the discussions surrounding national security nominations, indicated to PMG that Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and recent MAGA supporter, can expect rigorous questioning and significant opposition when her nomination as the next director of national intelligence (DNI) comes up for Senate review.
While opinions vary on the final outcome, one former senior staff member from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence suggested that her nomination may already be "dead on arrival." “I do not think the votes are there for Tulsi Gabbard. I don’t see how you get to a majority on SSCI, I’m sorry to tell you," the individual stated, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive and evolving nature of the confirmation process.
Several staffers noted that Gabbard's challenges have not yet surfaced prominently in the media largely because attention has shifted to other controversial Trump nominees, particularly his first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, and current nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. “The best thing that Tulsi has going for her is the other Trump nominees that are blowing themselves up,” observed a former senior Republican Senate staffer.
Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for Gabbard on the transition team, announced that the former Hawaii lawmaker plans to initiate meetings with the Senate Intelligence Committee and GOP leadership next week. According to Henning, Gabbard is eager to present her qualifications for the role, highlighting her two decades of service in the Hawaii National Guard and Army Reserve. “As DNI, she will protect our national security, uphold our constitutional rights and restore public trust in our government institutions,” she remarked.
Trump's choice of Gabbard, who departed the Democratic Party in 2022 and aligned with Trump during his campaign last fall, has taken intelligence community officials by surprise, particularly given her lack of experience in intelligence and her positions that seem sympathetic to Russia and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
Republican staffers have pointed to her perspectives on Russia and Syria, her inexperience, and her foreign travel as significant hurdles in the confirmation process. “Certainly I think the senators are going to ask her some serious questions about her track record during the vetting," commented a Republican Senate aide.
Despite her challenges, Gabbard possesses a top-level security clearance, known as TS/SCI, thanks to her military service, according to two sources familiar with her background. She will also undergo an FBI background check as part of the nomination process. Sen. Mark Warner has already requested that the transition team furnish those documents to the committee, as noted by a Democratic Senate Intelligence Committee aide.
An important factor that could influence Gabbard’s nomination may be who Trump selects as her deputy, the principal deputy director of national intelligence. Reports indicate Gabbard has already been involved in interviewing candidates for that position, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Several current and former GOP Senate aides, who are familiar with the discussions surrounding national security nominations, indicated to PMG that Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and recent MAGA supporter, can expect rigorous questioning and significant opposition when her nomination as the next director of national intelligence (DNI) comes up for Senate review.
While opinions vary on the final outcome, one former senior staff member from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence suggested that her nomination may already be "dead on arrival." “I do not think the votes are there for Tulsi Gabbard. I don’t see how you get to a majority on SSCI, I’m sorry to tell you," the individual stated, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive and evolving nature of the confirmation process.
Several staffers noted that Gabbard's challenges have not yet surfaced prominently in the media largely because attention has shifted to other controversial Trump nominees, particularly his first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, and current nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. “The best thing that Tulsi has going for her is the other Trump nominees that are blowing themselves up,” observed a former senior Republican Senate staffer.
Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for Gabbard on the transition team, announced that the former Hawaii lawmaker plans to initiate meetings with the Senate Intelligence Committee and GOP leadership next week. According to Henning, Gabbard is eager to present her qualifications for the role, highlighting her two decades of service in the Hawaii National Guard and Army Reserve. “As DNI, she will protect our national security, uphold our constitutional rights and restore public trust in our government institutions,” she remarked.
Trump's choice of Gabbard, who departed the Democratic Party in 2022 and aligned with Trump during his campaign last fall, has taken intelligence community officials by surprise, particularly given her lack of experience in intelligence and her positions that seem sympathetic to Russia and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
Republican staffers have pointed to her perspectives on Russia and Syria, her inexperience, and her foreign travel as significant hurdles in the confirmation process. “Certainly I think the senators are going to ask her some serious questions about her track record during the vetting," commented a Republican Senate aide.
Despite her challenges, Gabbard possesses a top-level security clearance, known as TS/SCI, thanks to her military service, according to two sources familiar with her background. She will also undergo an FBI background check as part of the nomination process. Sen. Mark Warner has already requested that the transition team furnish those documents to the committee, as noted by a Democratic Senate Intelligence Committee aide.
An important factor that could influence Gabbard’s nomination may be who Trump selects as her deputy, the principal deputy director of national intelligence. Reports indicate Gabbard has already been involved in interviewing candidates for that position, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
