Overview of Tulsi Gabbard’s Tenure as Director of National Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard has spent a year at the helm of the intelligence community, serving under President Donald Trump, where her focus has included declassifying documents, border security, and maintaining election integrity.

Reflecting on her past year, Gabbard expressed gratitude for the trust and responsibility she has been given, stating, “I am honored and grateful for the responsibility and trust placed in me.”

After her Senate confirmation on February 12, 2025, Gabbard, a former congresswoman and military veteran, immediately took the lead at the Munich Security Conference. There, she emphasized President Trump’s commitment to being a “peacebuilder and unifier.”

• During a visit to the southern border, Gabbard highlighted the efforts of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) alongside Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance.
• More than 100 intelligence officials lost their security clearances due to inappropriate communications, which included notable figures like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
• Security clearances were also revoked for 51 individuals associated with Hunter Biden’s controversial “disinformation” letter.
• Part of the JFK assassination records were declassified.
• By cutting back on unnecessary meetings and programs, Gabbard’s initiatives saved approximately $30 million.

In April, she discussed the launch of the Directors Initiative Group (DIG), aimed at reform and accountability within the agency.

• She highlighted the declassification of JFK assassination documents.
• Concerns were raised over the Biden administration’s domestic counterterrorism strategies, which some critics claimed promoted covert surveillance and censorship.

In May, Gabbard pointed out plans to eliminate remaining DEI initiatives and mentioned the release of over 60,000 documents related to Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. She also worked on removing political influences from the National Intelligence Council.

July saw updates from Gabbard regarding the release of MLK Jr. files as part of her transparency efforts, along with a major restructuring initiative that aimed to reduce the workforce by 40% and eliminate further politicized offices.

In August, she collaborated with Vice President Vance to persuade the UK government to retract a request for Apple to hand over encrypted data of American citizens.

At a memorial for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in September, Gabbard emphasized the need for resilience and activism, stating, “everyone needs to be a warrior like Charlie.”

• In October, she noted that actionable intelligence from the NCTC helped U.S. and Mexican law enforcement apprehend a major figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, which was reported by a leading news source.

In the following month, Gabbard shared documents related to Amelia Earhart, and in January, her leadership helped the NCTC block over 10,000 cartel and gang members from entering the U.S.

Throughout her time as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard has prioritized election integrity, seeing it as crucial to national security. This included her presence during an FBI raid at the Fulton County Election Center in Georgia.

A spokesperson for Gabbard indicated that she understands the importance of election security for the nation’s health, asserting the intelligence community’s awareness of vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems. In accordance with President Trump’s directives, Gabbard is committed to ensuring the integrity of elections.