Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii representative and now a nominee for director of national intelligence DNI under Donald Trump, has reversed her position on a controversial government surveillance program.
During her time in Congress, Gabbard, who was a Democrat at the time, advocated for ending Section 702, a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act FISA that allows the government to track foreigners suspected of espionage. This provision has drawn criticism due to instances where it was misused to surveil American citizens.
Now, seeking confirmation from the GOP-controlled Senate, Gabbard has expressed her intent to uphold Section 702, emphasizing the need to balance national security with protecting Fourth Amendment rights.
This shift in stance came after Sen. James Lankford R-Okla. suggested she clarify her position on the program, warning that opposing Section 702 would hinder national defense efforts.
The change has raised concerns among civil liberties advocates, as well as libertarian-minded GOP senators like Mike Lee Utah and Rand Paul Ky., who had previously supported Gabbard’s nomination.
Critics argue that Gabbard’s reversal on this issue signals her alignment with the intelligence establishment, potentially undermining her appeal to those who hoped she would challenge the status quo.