Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer who is currently serving as the eighth Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in President Donald Trump’s administration. She was confirmed by the Senate on February 12, 2025, and is the first woman combat veteran to hold the position. 

Career Overview

• Director of National Intelligence (2025–present): Gabbard oversees the U.S. Intelligence Community’s 18 agencies, including the CIA and FBI. Her stated mission is to refocus the intelligence community on providing accurate, unbiased intelligence to ensure national security.
• U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2021):She represented Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district, becoming the first Samoan American and the first Hindu member of Congress.
• Military Service: Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and later transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve, where she holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. She served two deployments to the Middle East, including a tour in Iraq, where she was awarded a Combat Medical Badge.
• Political Affiliation: She was a Democrat until 2022 when she left the party to become an independent, criticizing it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers”. She joined the Republican Party in 2024 and endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. 

Key Political Positions and Controversies

• Foreign Policy: Gabbard is known for her anti-interventionist stance, often opposing U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. Her unauthorized 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and past comments about Russia’s “legitimate security concerns” regarding Ukraine drew significant scrutiny during her DNI confirmation process.
• Domestic Policy Shifts: While she once supported progressive causes like universal healthcare, her views have shifted to align more with conservative positions on issues such as border security and gender.
• “Deep State” Allegations: Since becoming DNI, Gabbard has made headlines for her claims that former President Barack Obama and his administration officials orchestrated a “years-long” coup against Donald Trump. She has also announced plans to cut intelligence staff and revoke the security clearances of former intelligence officials. 

More information can be found on her official DNI website at DNI.gov or on her Congress Bioguidepage.