Backlash Erupts Over Plan for Secret Tulsi Gabbard Confirmation Vote

Republican senators are pushing for an open confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, whom President Donald Trump has nominated to be the director of national intelligence.

According to Politico, Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, is under pressure from Trump allies in the Senate to conduct the hearing publicly.

The Senate Intelligence Committee traditionally holds its hearings and votes behind closed doors, with some exceptions for public sessions, Politico reported. This practice extends to votes on presidential nominees.

Some supporters of Gabbard suspect that certain committee members might alter their votes if they were cast in a public forum, according to Politico.

Given that the panel consists of nine Republicans and eight Democrats, the defection of even one Republican could stall her confirmation before it reaches the Senate floor.

Politico pointed out that it remains uncertain whether Cotton has the authority to alter committee procedures to allow for an open hearing and vote.

During the confirmation process for CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the committee only disclosed the final vote tally, revealing that 14 senators backed his nomination while three opposed it.

Prominent conservative lawmakers and commentators are now demanding transparency regarding Gabbard’s vote.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk voiced his objections on social media platform X, calling the secrecy “outrageous and wrong.”

“I’m told that the vote for Tulsi Gabbard might be done privately in a SCIF – with the vote tallies kept secret from the American people,” Kirk stated.

“The American people deserve to know how THEIR Senators vote on Trump’s nominees!”

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee echoed this sentiment on X, asserting that the vote “needs to be public.”

“Her nomination isn’t classified,” Lee wrote. “The vote on her nomination shouldn’t be treated as if it were.”

Politico highlighted that public scrutiny played a role in the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose nomination was ultimately decided by Vice President J.D. Vance’s tie-breaking vote.

Some Republican senators remain undecided on supporting Gabbard’s confirmation.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins told The Hill that she plans to question Gabbard about her stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign targets.

Gabbard has previously voiced criticism of the program.