Delay in Tulsi Gabbard's Confirmation Hearing Explained by Sen. John Barrasso

On Sunday, Senator John Barrasso shared that the confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of director of national intelligence, is facing a delay because of a "paperwork problem" with the Office of Government Ethics. Originally anticipated for later in the week, Barrasso indicated that the hearing would likely be rescheduled for the following week, as discussed during his appearance on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

This postponement occurs amidst hearings for several of Trump's other nominations that are scheduled for this week before his inauguration on January 20. Gabbard, who previously served as a U.S. representative for Hawaii from 2013 to 2021 and is a veteran of the Army National Guard, must first present her case before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The committee requires that all nominee paperwork be submitted at least one week prior to the hearing.

Gabbard's nomination has raised some concerns regarding her lack of intelligence background and her perspectives on various international issues, including her positions on Russia and the former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Barrasso, who holds the position of Senate majority whip and is responsible for gauging Republican votes, expressed his confidence in Gabbard's confirmation prospects, stating that he believes she will achieve the needed support.

He highlighted Gabbard's continued advancements in her military career, noting her current rank as lieutenant colonel and her possession of high-level security clearances, which he believes make her a suitable choice to ensure U.S. national security. Barrasso emphasized that this week is crucial for Senate Republicans as they begin their committee hearings and reiterated Trump's commitment to forming his administration promptly, indicating that he has met with nearly all of the nominees, supporting their confirmations.