US Senate confirms National Security Agency director, ending long vacancy

[demmiblue]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate confirmed General Joshua Rudd on Tuesday to lead the National Security Agency and the ​nation's Cyber Command, filling a position that had been vacant ‌since President Donald Trump abruptly fired his predecessor in a national security purge.

The Senate voted 71-29 to confirm Rudd, making him a four-star general.

Trump nominated Rudd, then ​a lieutenant general and No. 2 at the military's ​Indo-Pacific Command, for the so-called dual-hat position in December.

The NSA ⁠monitors, collects and processes information and data for global intelligence ​and counterintelligence purposes. Cyber Command conducts offensive and defensive cyber operations, ​an increasingly important part of military campaigns including the current Iran war.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-senate-confirms-national-security-agency-director-ending-long-vacancy-2026-03-10/

---

18 Senate Dems just voted to confirm Trump's NSA director:

Baldwin
Coons
Cortez Masto
Fetterman
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hirono
Kelly
King
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Schiff
Shaheen
Slotkin
Warner
Whitehouse

— Jonathan Cohn (@jonathancohn.bsky.social) 2026-03-10T20:36:52.754Z

Earlier thread from Sen. Wyden:

This week the Senate is going to vote on Joshua Rudd to be Director of the NSA. He's a dangerous nominee to lead an agency with a history of abusing domestic surveillance capabilities. Here's why:

— Senator Ron Wyden (@wyden.senate.gov) 2026-03-10T14:50:43.399Z

During his confirmation hearing, I pressed Rudd on the NSA's sprawling surveillance powers and whether he would spy on Americans. During that questioning, he showed no understanding of the Fourth Amendment and the basic constitutional right to privacy of every American.

— Senator Ron Wyden (@wyden.senate.gov) 2026-03-10T14:50:43.400Z

Donald Trump is weaponizing agencies like ICE to surveil and target American citizens. The Senate has no business putting someone in charge of the NSA who won’t commit to protecting Americans’ constitutional rights.

— Senator Ron Wyden (@wyden.senate.gov) 2026-03-10T14:50:43.401Z

*more

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

1. Another shining example of bipartisanship. (n/t)

If you want to see how your Senators voted:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00049.htm

[chowder66]

2. After what Trump did to Kelly ...I'm extremely surprised by his vote.

I'm perplexed by Schiff who is my rep.... and Whitehouse. Sigh.

[quaint]

3. Predictable.

I've voted for him but always considered him too conservative.

During his tenure, Schiff also authored "tough on crime" measures, which did not pass or were vetoed by governors, including a bill to allow minors 14 or older accused of serious crimes to be tried as adults and a bill that would have made it a felony to hire an undocumented immigrant. According to The Guardian, these proposals were in line with the "tough on crime" attitude of other politicians in the late 1990s.

wikipedia

[AllyCat]

4. Baldwin voted for this terrible man?

It’s so frustrating!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. And one of my senators as well!

[RandiFan1290]

6. Exactly what I expected.