President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to lead the intelligence community was met with mixed reactions, but a faction of activists and lawmakers who have worked to rein in government spy powers were pleased by the choice.
Gabbard, a veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, has faced accusations from some that her stances on U.S. adversaries could threaten national security, but others see Gabbard as an ally in their fight for privacy protections.
As the director of national intelligence, Gabbard would oversee 18 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the FBI, if she is confirmed by the Senate.
Trump had been expected to reward Gabbard with a top role in his administration after she left the Democratic Party in 2022 and became one of his top campaign surrogates this year.
He chose Gabbard for DNI in part because she has a long history of…