The confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the position of Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has been postponed due to a "paperwork problem" with the Office of Government Ethics, according to Senator John Barrasso.
The Wyoming Republican and Senate Majority Whip expressed his disappointment on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," stating, "We had hoped to have the hearing later this week. It looks like it's going to be the following week."
As reported by CBS News, this delay comes amidst a flurry of other confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet picks, all scheduled to occur ahead of his inauguration on January 20. Gabbard, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and Democratic representative for Hawaii from 2013 to 2021, is required to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee prior to a Senate confirmation vote. The committee must receive the necessary paperwork for nominees at least a week before the scheduled hearing.
Gabbard's nomination has sparked controversy due to her lack of intelligence background and her views on Russia, recently ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, and other U.S. adversaries. Despite these concerns, Barrasso, who is tasked with tallying Republican votes, expressed his support for Gabbard and showed no worry about garnering sufficient backing for her confirmation. "She continues to have promotions in the military. She's a lieutenant colonel. She now has top-level security clearances," Barrasso stated. "She's the right person to keep America secure and safe."
Barrasso emphasized the importance of the upcoming committee hearings for Senate Republicans, describing it as the week when "the rubber hits the road." He recalled a recent meeting with Trump, during which the President-elect stressed that the Senate's primary objective should be to "get his team in place."
Barrasso, who has met with almost all of Trump's nominees for top administration positions, affirmed his support for "every one of these nominees as the whip." He added, "My job is to make sure they get across the finish line, get on the job, and President Trump deserves the team early." This commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and the swift confirmation of Trump's nominees underscores the conservative value of limited government interference and the importance of individual freedom in the decision-making process.
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