• The Senate advanced Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence in a 52-46 vote.
• Republican skepticism persists due to Gabbard’s foreign policy views and past controversies.
• Gabbard faces a final vote expected Tuesday night or Wednesday, with bipartisan concerns raised during hearings.

The Senate has moved closer to confirming Tulsi Gabbard as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI), following a largely party-line vote of 52-46. Her nomination is expected to be finalized with a full Senate vote as early as Tuesday night or Wednesday, according to reports from CBS News. This advancement follows her previous contentious confirmation hearings where her qualifications and foreign policy positions drew significant scrutiny.

Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii and a veteran of the Army National Guard, was nominated by President Trump, reflecting his distrust of traditional intelligence agencies. While Gabbard has served in the Army for over two decades, her lack of a formal intelligence background has raised doubts among some senators. Notably, her past meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her controversial remarks regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were focal points during her hearings Forbes.

During the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings, Gabbard faced tough questioning from both sides, particularly regarding her views on Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower. Despite her prior support for Snowden's legislation aimed at dropping charges against him, Gabbard refrained from labeling him a “traitor,” which some lawmakers saw as evasive. Comments from Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted support for Gabbard, citing her patriotism and focus on restoring the intelligence community’s core mission: unbiased intelligence collection and analysis The Hill.

Key Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana, signaled their support after receiving assurances from Gabbard about her commitment to national security. However, they emphasized their concerns regarding her prior positions on various national security issues, including opposition to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and her leniency towards adversaries like Russia and Syria.

Despite facing potential hurdles, Gabbard’s nomination has garnered attention due to her unique political journey—from a Democratic congresswoman to an independent and now a Republican supporter of Trump. This transformation, along with her past rhetoric, has generated significant debate among lawmakers as they prepare for her final confirmation vote.

The directorship of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is a crucial position responsible for overseeing the intelligence community and ensuring that accurate intelligence is provided to the president and key policymakers. As Gabbard's confirmation approaches, both supporters and critics will be closely watching her responses and commitments, which will likely affect her ability to lead the nation’s intelligence efforts moving forward. For detailed context on her paths and positions, see the article on CBS News.