Washington: The Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as director of US national intelligence. The confirmation came after a Senate vote of 52 to 48, with Mitch McConnell of Kentucky standing as the sole Republican opposing her appointment.
According to Qatar News Agency, Gabbard, who recently shifted her political allegiance from the Democratic to the Republican Party, has been a vocal critic of the US intelligence community in the past. Her confirmation process included rigorous questioning by the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding her previous political stances. Notably, Gabbard refrained from labeling Edward Snowden as a traitor during the hearings.
As the newly appointed director, Gabbard will be responsible for overseeing 18 intelligence agencies, managing a budget of approximately $100 billion, and providing intelligence advice to President Donald Trump.