DNI Tulsi Gabbard Faces Bipartisan Criticism Over Personnel Moves, Nuclear War Video, and Intelligence Control
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has come under intense scrutiny from senior Democratic lawmakers and Republican senators for actions perceived as undermining the independence of U.S. intelligence agencies and advancing narratives aligned with Russian interests. Democratic leaders, including Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner and House Appropriations member Betty McCollum, expressed grave concern over her personnel decisions and interference with intelligence oversight. Gabbard released a video warning of nuclear war that many critics described as echoing Kremlin propaganda and Russian psychological operations, with some accusing her of demoralizing Americans and weakening U.S. responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The video, which included imagery of a nuclear strike on America, drew bipartisan condemnation, with GOP Senator John Kennedy suggesting she "needs to change her meds." Additional reports indicate Gabbard has tightened control over intelligence assessments, slowing their publication and raising fears of political influence on intelligence. Her comments on historical events, such as the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, have also sparked backlash from Japan and U.S. officials. Critics argue that Gabbard's rhetoric and actions align with Russian disinformation efforts amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, leading to calls for her dismissal and replacement. The controversy highlights growing bipartisan unease about the politicization of the intelligence community under Gabbard's leadership.