Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is set to encounter a significant test in the Senate this Monday evening as she seeks confirmation to one of the most pivotal national security roles in the U.S. government.
Nominated by President Donald Trump to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Gabbard will face a cloture vote at 5:30 p.m., requiring more than 50 votes to proceed to the final confirmation vote.
Should the cloture motion succeed, the Senate will engage in 30 hours of debate, although typically, this period is shortened through bipartisan “time agreements.” However, given the contentiousness of Gabbard’s nomination and ongoing issues with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audit, such an agreement seems unlikely this time.
This would lead to a final confirmation vote no sooner than Wednesday, at the conclusion of the debate period.
Gabbard already cleared a major hurdle when she advanced from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week, securing endorsements from key GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana.
Her prospects for passing the cloture vote and achieving final confirmation appear stronger than during her initial committee review.
To secure her nomination, Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Vice President JD Vance worked diligently, engaging with committee members to ensure Gabbard’s advancement.
For the final Senate vote, Gabbard can only afford to lose up to three Republican votes, given she is not expected to gain Democratic support, as was evident in the committee vote.
Gabbard holds an advantage over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Senator Collins supporting her nomination, whereas Collins had been one of three votes against Hegseth.
Despite the narrow margin, there seems to be confidence among Republicans regarding Gabbard’s confirmation. This is reflected by the White House scheduling Vice President Vance for European engagements during Gabbard’s critical voting times, suggesting they do not anticipate needing her to break a tie in the Senate.
