JUST IN: Sen Todd Young will vote to confirm DNI head nominee Tulsi Gabbard

Young said that he had "engaged in extensive conversations" with Vice President JD Vance about Gabbard’s perspective on whistleblowers, a person familiar with his deliberations told Politico.

In a statement, Young said, "American intelligence officers around the globe deserve our respect and support. I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard’s engagement with me on a variety of issues to ensure that our intelligence professionals will be supported and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership."

"I have done what the Framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security, which is my top priority as a former Marine Corps intelligence officer," Young continued. "Having now secured these commitments, I will support Tulsi’s nomination and look forward to working with her to protect our national security."

This comes after fellow Senate Intelligence Committee member Susan Collins (R-ME) said that she would support Gabbard's confirmation. "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," Collins wrote.