The Republican-led Senate has confirmed former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, following a challenging confirmation hearing.
Gabbard faced tough scrutiny from both parties. The Senate will next hold a procedural vote on advancing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as health secretary, another controversial pick by Trump, with a final confirmation vote expected soon. Additionally, Trump plans to sign more executive orders on Wednesday.
The Senate voted 52-46, along party lines, on Monday on a procedural measure to limit debate on the nomination, clearing the way for the 100-member chamber to vote on Gabbard’s confirmation to a position overseeing the 18-agency intelligence community.
A vote to confirm Gabbard was another victory for Trump’s push to secure quick Senate approval for his nominees. The Senate’s Republican majority leader, John Thune, planned to start voting on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also faced fierce opposition, immediately after the Gabbard confirmation vote.
With a snowstorm hitting the capital, the greatest uncertainty surrounding what was once considered Gabbard’s at-risk nomination was whether bad weather might delay the vote.
Senators were due to vote on Gabbard shortly after midnight. Republicans, who have a 53-47 Senate majority, were confident. Vice President JD Vance, whose vote would be needed if they worried about a 50-50 tie, is out of the country.
Gabbard, a 43-year-old former Democrat, once faced bipartisan questions about her past statements seen as supporting U.S. adversaries. If confirmed, she would oversee an agency created by Congress in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the U.S. to coordinate the country’s sprawling intelligence apparatus.
With Reuters inputs