Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence, criticized intelligence agencies at her confirmation hearing on Thursday (January 30), and vowed to protect whistleblowers if the Senate backs her for the position.
"If confirmed, no country, group or individual will get a pass in my fulfilling that responsibility of providing that full intelligence picture so that you all can make the best informed policy decisions for the safety, security and freedom of the American people," Gabbard told the hearing.
Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed doubts about the choice of Gabbard, a 43-year-old former Democrat and combat veteran with little intelligence experience, to serve as the nation's top spy overseeing all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies.
Trump's announcement of Gabbard in November sent shockwaves through the national security establishment, adding to concerns that the sprawling intelligence community will become politicized under a second Trump administration.
Gabbard's hearing came as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the top U.S. health agency, came under attack at a hearing from Democrats who accused him of covering up anti-vaccine views and embracing conspiracy theories.
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