'Maverick move': Why spy world is 'alarmed' by Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as US intel chief

US President-elect Donald Trump 's unexpected choice of Tulsi Gabbard as the director of National Intelligence (DNI) has generated substantial concern within domestic and international intelligence spheres. This appointment indicates a notable shift in Trump's second-term approach, prioritising personal allegiance over traditional credentials.

Driving the news

• Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, became a notable figure for her independent streak, military service, and unorthodox foreign policy positions.
• Having left the Democratic Party in 2022 amid accusations of being a "Russian asset" and criticism over her anti-interventionist views, she later aligned with Trump and became a staunch supporter of his “America First” doctrine.
• Gabbard’s path to the DNI nomination reflects a shift from progressive Democratic star to a Republican-aligned figure. Her early political career saw her championing non-interventionist policies and endorsing Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016, which earned her a dedicated following among anti-war liberals. However, her criticisms of US military strategies, especially in the Middle East, positioned her increasingly at odds with the Democratic Party.
• After leaving Congress in 2021, she pivoted to conservative media and platforms, criticizing what she called the Democratic Party’s “elitist cabal of warmongers.” Gabbard’s rhetoric resonated with Trump’s base, and she gradually became a prominent figure within his political sphere. Her appearances with figures like Robert F Kennedy Jr, who endorsed Trump after abandoning his own Democratic primary bid, further cemented her transition.

Zoom in

• Now tapped for the DNI role, Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies and play a critical role in advising the president on national security.
• The DNI position, established in 2004 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, was designed to streamline intelligence coordination and prevent gaps that had allowed major security threats to emerge.
• As per a Chidanand Rajghatta's report, "the director of national intelligence serves as the head of the US intelligence community, overseeing and directing implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security."
• The DNI oversees agencies such as the CIA, NSA, and FBI, and is responsible for producing the President’s Daily Brief (PDB), the comprehensive intelligence report on global hotspots.
• By nominating Gabbard, Trump has signaled his intent to reshape the intelligence community, which he has long viewed with suspicion and as part of a "deep state" resistant to his leadership.

Why it matters

• Trump’s surprise nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as the director of National Intelligence (DNI) has ignited widespread unease across both domestic and international intelligence communities.
• Gabbard’s controversial stances, particularly her views on Russia and US military interventions, are seen as potentially disruptive to the stability and functioning of the US intelligence apparatus.
• Gabbard’s nomination has raised red flags among US allies, especially within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• A Western intelligence source warned of a potential “slowdown in intelligence sharing” should Gabbard’s pro-Russia inclinations shape US intelligence policy.
• “Choosing Gabbard for this role is an affront to the intelligence establishment,” Douglas London, a veteran CIA operations officer, told the Wall Street Journal. “Is she going to shape the intel? Is she going to shape and filter it?” he asked.

Between the lines: Loyalty over experience

• Trump’s pick of Gabbard fits into a broader pattern of his personnel choices for the upcoming administration, favoring loyalty over conventional expertise. In his first term, Trump frequently clashed with intelligence officials whom he perceived as undermining his agenda. Figures like former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were public adversaries who amplified Trump’s mistrust of the intelligence community.
• By selecting Gabbard, who has echoed Trump’s critiques of the “deep state,” the president-elect is doubling down on his intent to realign national security leadership with his worldview.

What they’re saying

• Concerns from intelligence circles: Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic lawmaker and former CIA officer, expressed deep apprehensions about Gabbard’s nomination. “Not only is she ill-prepared and unqualified, but she traffics in conspiracy theories and cozies up to dictators like Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin ,” Spanberger noted, highlighting fears that Gabbard’s biases could skew intelligence assessments.
• Former national security adviser John Bolton, now a critic of Trump, minced no words, saying, “I thought it was the worst cabinet-level appointment in history until we then heard about the Matt Gaetz appointment.”
• As per a Telegraph report, Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of the UK’s MI6, characterized Gabbard’s appointment as “a maverick move that defies intelligence orthodoxy.” While European allies are known for their adaptability, the appointment places a strain on their trust. “We have to deal with what we have,” a European defense official told Reuters. “We will be attentive.”

What’s next

• The Senate confirmation process is set to be contentious. Despite the Republican Party’s majority, there is bipartisan concern about Gabbard’s qualifications and ideological leanings. Former CIA officials and intelligence analysts warn that Gabbard’s perceived alignment with adversarial nations, particularly her sympathetic remarks towards Russia’s “legitimate security concerns” regarding Ukraine, could hinder her ability to provide unbiased intelligence.
• For many Republicans, her nomination is a litmus test of their support for Trump’s loyalty-first governance model. While allies like Senator Marco Rubio have called it a “revolutionary pick,” others, such as Senator John Cornyn, remain wary. “We’re going to do our job, vet the nominees, and make a decision. That’s a constitutional responsibility,” he remarked, underscoring the likely contentious nature of Gabbard’s confirmation process.
• As the Senate readies for what promises to be a polarizing hearing, intelligence professionals are left to ponder what Gabbard’s tenure might mean. Will she reshape intelligence reports to echo Trump’s worldview? Will America’s adversaries exploit perceived disarray, emboldened by internal divisions?
• Although Trump’s supporters in the Senate are likely to back her nomination, some key Republican figures might resist. Analysts note that this could be a test of whether Trump’s hold over the GOP will override concerns about national security.

(With inputs from agencies)