On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed former Representative Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence.
Her confirmation places the former Democrat and advocate for privacy in a cabinet-level role within Trump’s Republican-led administration.
According to the BBC, the Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Gabbard, with Senator Mitch McConnell siding with all 47 Democrats in opposition.
The Army Reserve lieutenant colonel will now serve as Trump’s principal adviser on intelligence collected by 18 different agencies, following a series of contentious Senate hearings.
During the opening of her confirmation hearing last month, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, acknowledged the heightened interest surrounding Gabbard’s nomination.
“I think it’s fair to say that Ms. Gabbard’s nomination has generated a bit more interest and attention than most nominees,” Cotton remarked.