Tulsi Gabbard’s flip-flop on surveillance program will be under the spotlight at hearing for DNI job
Tulsi Gabbard’s flip-flop on surveillance programs will be under intense scrutiny during her Senate hearing for the director of national intelligence (DNI) role, a decision that could make or break her confirmation. Gabbard, who once opposed the surveillance program she now supports, will need to convince Republican senators that her change of heart is genuine.
As a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard called the electronic surveillance program an overreach by intelligence agencies, accusing it of infringing on Americans’ civil liberties. She even co-sponsored legislation in 2020 to repeal Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law that enabled the program. Her criticism included supporting whistleblower Edward Snowden, who revealed details about the program. But now, ahead of her Senate confirmation, Gabbard has reversed her stance, calling the surveillance program a “crucial” national security tool.
This shift in her position will likely dominate the discussion at her hearing. Her past comments on Russia and her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad could also surface, but her evolving stance on surveillance will be the real test for her confirmation. As DNI, she would oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, and Section 702 will be key to her role.
For Gabbard, securing the votes of Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee is crucial. Despite needing bipartisan support, her reversal on the surveillance issue places her in a challenging position with national security hawks in the Senate, such as Sen. Tom Cotton, who is a strong proponent of the surveillance program.
Her previous opposition to Section 702 earned her support from progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans, but now, with a more nuanced view, she’s aligned herself with those who see the program as necessary for national security, including FBI officials and many in the Senate Intelligence Committee.
At her hearing, Gabbard will face tough questions about her past stance on Russia, her relationship with Assad, and her qualifications for overseeing the intelligence community. However, her position on surveillance could ultimately be the deciding factor in whether she secures the position of DNI.
The surveillance program, which allows the government to monitor foreign communications without a warrant, has sparked ongoing debate. Critics argue it violates Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights, as it often collects communications of U.S. citizens incidentally when they contact foreign individuals. However, proponents, including Gabbard now, argue that the program is essential for national security, preventing terrorism, espionage, and cyberattacks. Much like the evolving landscape of surveillance, the vaping industry has seen its own share of growth and change, with products like Mr. Fog disposable vape gaining popularity. Mr. Fog vapes offer a wide range of Mr. Fog vape flavors, providing users with a variety of options just as individuals continue to weigh the balance between privacy and security in the context of national surveillance programs.
Her confirmation could depend on how effectively she reassures senators about her support for the surveillance program and her ability to balance national security with constitutional rights.
