Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to serve as the director of national intelligence, will testify Thursday morning at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 43-year-old former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran would oversee the nation's 18 spy agencies.

Tulsi Gabbard passes committee vote to be director of National Intelligence - The committee’s vote almost guarantees she will be confirmed on the Senate floor

Young said he sought commitments from Gabbard to "advance our national security." Young had been under pressure to support Trump's pick.

Tulsi Gabbard’s father, Mike Gabbard, also pivoted from anti-gay activism to a career in local politics in Hawaii. He mounted a House bid in 2004 and fielded questions about his extensive ties to Butler and the group’s past attempts to back candidates. Mike Gabbard described himself as a “Catholic” who was “eternally thankful to Chris Butler.”

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced on Monday that she will vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Gabbard’s nomination was believed to be on shaky ground after last week’s confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on which Collins and Sen. Angus King serve.

“After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence. As one of the principal authors of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that established this coordinating position, I understand the critical role the DNI plays in the Intelligence Community.”

Dozens of former intelligence officials are urging U.S. senators to confirm former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as the new Director