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Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence made progress on Tuesday as the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to advance her confirmation, despite ongoing concerns about her qualifications and previous controversial statements regarding U.S. adversaries.

Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Cotton announced the committee’s decision to move Gabbard’s nomination forward to the full Senate for consideration.

The committee’s approval came through a close vote of 9-8, with sources close to the matter revealing that Republicans unanimously supported Gabbard while Democrats stood united in opposition.

The timeline for Gabbard’s full Senate confirmation vote remains undetermined. With Democrats expected to maintain their unified opposition, Gabbard can only afford to lose three Republican votes in the 100-member chamber to secure confirmation.

Gabbard’s advancement through the committee stage reflects a broader pattern of strong Republican support for Trump’s nominees during his second term, highlighting his continued influence over the party.

Recent developments saw key Republican committee members, including Senators Susan Collins and Todd Young, declaring their support for Gabbard after previously remaining undecided.

The 43-year-old former Democrat’s nomination has faced significant scrutiny from both parties due to her limited intelligence experience and controversial past positions. During her confirmation hearing, senators pressed her about her previous defense of Edward Snowden and statements perceived as sympathetic to Russia.

While serving in the House of Representatives, Gabbard had proposed legislation seeking to dismiss criminal charges against Snowden, who leaked classified NSA documents before seeking refuge first in China and subsequently in Russia.

Young shared Gabbard’s written commitment on social media, where she promised to ensure accountability for any intelligence community personnel suspected of unauthorized disclosure of intelligence programs.